Congress issues notice to Tanveer Sait following discontent over ceding Mysuru Mayor post to JD(S)
Bengaluru, Mar 2: Amid discontent within the party over ceding Mysuru Mayor post to the JD(S), the Congress on Tuesday issued show-cause notice to senior party leader and former Minister Tanveer Sait asking him to explain the turn of events during the election last week.
Sait along with local leaders is said to have decided on giving up the Mayor post to JD(S), which has left the Congress divided, forcing the party high command to intervene.
The Congress was to get the Mayor post as per its earlier understanding with the JD(S), and the decision to cede it to the regional party has deeply upset Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, as he hails from Mysuru.
"We are serving him (Sait) a notice, I have told our disciplinary committee.Congress should have got the Mayor post, this was the direction from me and Siddaramaiah. We are seeking explanation on what happened and will look into it," Shivakumar told reporters here.
AICC secretary Madhu Yashki Goud has met him regarding the developments, and will be going to Mysuru, Shivakumar said.
"Ours is a disciplined party, whoever might have given the statements or shown disrespect towards leadership, it will not be tolerated," he said.
In response to a question, the Congress state chief denied Siddaramaiah was miffed.
In a last minute twist, the Congress and JD(S) had joined hands to keep away the BJP from taking control of the Mysuru City Corporation, during the Mayor elections held on February 24, which saw JD(S)' Rukmini Made Gowda elected as Mayor, and Congress' Anwar Baig the Deputy Mayor.
Subsequently at a Congress meeting, several senior party leaders had questioned Shivakumar on the decision to join hands with the JD(S) and giving up the Mayor post to the regional party, during which Siddarmaiah had expressed "hurt".
Madhu Yashki Goud said the party high command will not tolerate any indiscipline, as he also indicated about the party high command's disapproval regarding alliance with JD (S).
"High Command is aware of the situation, the mandate is very clear that every leader should work in tandem and together.Any indiscipline will not be tolerated.. whoever they are, however big they are, they have to follow the party instructions, " he said after meeting Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Disciplinary committee Chairman Rahman Khan has been asked by Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala to look into any indiscipline, Goud said.
Any indiscipline, any slogan shouting against the CLP leader or any senior leader of the party will not be tolerated however big they are whether it is in Mysuru or Raichur, he asserted.
Pro-Congress Muslims on Monday had staged a protest in Raichur against Siddaramaiah in support of Sait.
Regarding alliance with JD(S), Goud said the party, which claims to be secular, indirectly supported the BJP, and had helped the saffron party in removing the Legislative Council Chairman, who was from the Congress.
"We will work with the party that is committed to secular ideology, but joining hands with Congress and indirectly helping the BJP- we are hesitant to move with them," he said.
According to sources, Congress high command stepped in and deputed Goud as Siddaramaiah was adamant on action against those responsible for the party giving up the Mayor post to JD(S), despite his strong opposition.
He is also said to have threatened about not participating in the party's organisational activities and march beginning from Wednesday.
Siddaramaiah and his supporters see the turn of events during Mysuru Mayoral polls as an attempt to weaken him at his home turf by Shivakumar and team, sources said, adding that it seems to be part of the ongoing political one-upmanship between the two leaders to gain control over party affairs in the state.
Though this Mayoral polls saw the continuation of the Congress-JD(S) alliance, the turn of events came as a surprise, as JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy ahead of polls had ruled out allying with any party and had fielded candidates.
In the council where no party has an absolute majority, all three parties had fielded candidates making the contest interesting, but at the last moment Congress and JD(S) decided to join hands to keep BJP out of power.
The JD(S) relented and agreed to join hands with Congress after the latter decided to sacrifice the Mayor post.
After meeting Shivakumar and Goud, Sait, an MLA from the Narasimharaja constituency in Mysuru, today said he has received the notice and will respond to it, and also meet leaders whenever required.
Noting that he has given a report to the KPCC regarding the developments on the election day, Sait said "CLP leader and KPCC leader were aware of alliance talks with JD(S) and wanted Mayor post for Congress, but as it was difficult we had to agree for Deputy Mayor post."
"I will respond to explanation that the party has sought."
Later in the evening, Shivakumar met Siddaramaiah at his residence and held discussions.
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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.
