Salman Khan house firing: Remove actor's name from plea over death of accused, says HC
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered for the removal of actor Salman Khan's name as respondent in a plea seeking a CBI probe into the custodial death of an accused in a case of firing outside the actor's house.
Accused Anuj Thapan was found dead on May 1 inside the toilet of the crime branch police lock-up here.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Shyam Chandak directed petitioner Rita Devi, mother of Thapan, to delete Khan's name from the petition.
"Delete his name. Petitioner seeks leave to amend the petition to delete the name of respondent 4 (Salman Khan) as there is no pleading against him and no relief sought against him," the court said.
On April 14, two motorbike-borne persons opened fire outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's residence in Bandra area here.
The alleged shooters - Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal - were later arrested from Gujarat.
Thapan was arrested on April 26 from Punjab along with another person for allegedly supplying weapons to the shooters for firing at Khan's residence.
While police claim Thapan killed himself, Rita Devi in her petition filed on May 3 in the HC alleged foul play and claimed he was killed.
In her plea, she sought the HC to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into her son's death.
The petition said Thapan was physically assaulted and tortured by police in custody.
Rita Devi had in her plea impleaded Khan as a respondent.
The high court on Monday said no averments or relief was sought against Khan in the petition and hence there was no point in keeping the actor involved in the plea.
"What is the point of making a person who is supposed to be the victim a party respondent? We see no reason why respondent 4 should continue to be in this plea. He is not a necessary party," the bench said.
The HC noted the petitioner's concern was the death of her son but there was no point in making Khan a respondent in the plea.
"You (petitioner) are concerned with the death of your son...that the court will look into...but what is the point of impleading respondent 4 in the plea," the bench asked.
"This is too far-fetched. No relief is sought against him (Salman Khan) and no averment or allegation is made against him," the court added.
The petitioner's advocate told the court that while they are not seeking any relief in their plea against the actor, he should be part of the probe being carried out by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) into Thapan's death.
The court said it is for the CID to decide.
By impleading Khan as a respondent in the plea, the petitioner was shifting her focus to something else instead of the main issue, the court said.
"Your (petitioner) focus should be on the main issue. By doing this, you are digressing from the core issue which should be your concern," it said.
Additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde informed the court that as per law, a magisterial enquiry was also initiated and submitted a status report of the CID probe before the HC.
Rita Devi's advocate told the court that the magistrate issued summons to the petitioner on May 10, directing her to appear before it for recording her statement on May 23, but she received the summons only on May 24.
The court said the magistrate shall issue fresh summons to the petitioner and ensure it is served prior in time so that she can appear.
The high court posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
