Chief Justice of India Suryakant has taken a stern stand on maintaining the dignity of the apex court and adhering to proper judicial protocols. During a hearing related to student demonstrations in Delhi, the Chief Justice expressed strong displeasure with lawyers who attempt to raise matters spontaneously without filing any formal petition, as well as media outlets that report on such incidents with incomplete information. He emphasized that the judiciary functions under established legal procedures and cannot operate on hearsay, noting that improper methods only end up demeaning the dignity of the court.
The Real Story Behind the Outrage
The Chief Justice's comments come in the wake of viral reports suggesting that the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea against police action on student protesters by telling them not to waste the court's time. Clarifying the reality of the situation, CJI Suryakant revealed that there was not even a single-page petition presented before the bench. Instead, a lawyer named Mishra suddenly stood up in the courtroom and began arguing the issue without any official filing. When the bench refused to entertain this irregular request, media outlets immediately ran reports claiming that the Supreme Court was refusing to hear the students' grievances.
Guidelines for Lawyers and Responsible Journalism
Addressing this breach of procedure, CJI Suryakant noted that presenting accurate information to the public is of utmost importance. Demanding an immediate hearing without submitting a formal petition is not the correct approach to seeking justice. He advised the media to thoroughly verify all aspects of a legal proceeding before broadcasting, ensuring that misleading narratives do not reach the public. The CJI pointed out that attempting to argue cases without proper documentation only wastes precious judicial hours, while irresponsible reporting erodes public trust in the legal system. Concurrently, the central government is reportedly adopting a softer stance toward peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar, exploring options to avoid registering police cases against them.
Strict Posture on the NEET UG Paper Leak Case
In a separate but crucial development concerning students, the Supreme Court took an uncompromising stance while hearing petitions related to the NEET UG paper leak. The court declared that the recurring pattern of systemic errors in public examinations must be permanently halted. The bench added that it would personally oversee the ongoing investigation and is fully prepared to go the extra mile to ensure absolute transparency. Furthermore, the Supreme Court emphasized that the future of millions of students cannot be compromised due to administrative lapses. It directed the NTA to design a robust infrastructure and urged the government to present a comprehensive blueprint of security measures to prevent such massive failures in the future.
Directives on Cyber Security and Future Examinations
To reform the examination structure, the Supreme Court has demanded detailed explanations from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the government regarding the feasibility of transitioning to computer-based testing. The court also inquired about the foolproof delivery mechanisms for question papers and the cybersecurity measures that would be implemented to prevent future leaks. The government must present a comprehensive layout addressing all these safety metrics. The bench has scheduled the next hearing on these critical matters for August 3.
