Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has emphasised on the need for central probe agencies such as Enforcement Directorate(ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to have a delicate balance between search, seizure powers and privacy rights while speaking at the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on CBI Raising Day on April 1. Today, the Supreme Court under the present CJI, by being fiercely independent, has become the hope justice like how late JP was when he stood against the might of the Indira Gandhi government in 1974. The current Supreme Court has made significant observations while responding to petitions filed. In November, the Supreme Court had stressed the need for the Union government to put in place guidelines for the search and seizure of media persons\u2019 digital devices. In January, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi Police, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to respond to a petition by news website News Click seeking guidelines on the search and seizure of electronic devices. On April1, CJI Chandrachud also urged investigative agencies to focus on probing crimes concerning national security and economic offences against the nation. The current landscape in India, particularly concerning constitutional law, is experiencing significant strain as both the executive and judiciary seem aligned with the ruling political faction. Consequently, the judiciary stands as the sole institution lending voice to those marginalized by those in power. A recent case before the Supreme Court highlighted a petitioner\u2019s concern over a surge in CBI and ED cases since 2014, with only a meagre 23 convictions. The petitioner further noted a disproportionate focus on opposition figures, with 95% of those probed belonging to the opposition. The court underscored the gravity of allegations, acknowledging the impact on the accused\u2019s life and reputation. Delays in justice delivery were highlighted as a hurdle, necessitating a multifaceted approach to expedite trials. The Chief Justice also lamented the manpower shortage in central agencies, attributing it to their stretched resources and the focus on opposition figures, portraying some cases as witch hunts. The Supreme Court of India stands as the lone institution capable and willing to scrutinize government decisions, as evidenced by its recent intervention regarding electoral bonds. These bonds, once shrouded in opacity, have now been exposed for potentially legalizing bribery and money laundering. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has highlighted the overactivity of central probe agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI since 2014. Despite numerous summons and arrests, convictions remain staggeringly low, with a disproportionate focus on opposition figures, raising concerns of political bias. The court emphasized the seriousness of charges faced by accused individuals, recognizing the immense personal and reputational stakes involved. Delays in trials only exacerbate their suffering, underscoring the urgent need for judicial efficiency. To safeguard against political interference and ensure impartial investigations, there\u2019s a compelling argument for granting independence to central probe agencies, liberating them from executive control. This move would mitigate accusations of politically motivated investigations and foster transparency. Clear guidelines must accompany this independence, outlining the agencies\u2019 obligations to operate transparently and be held accountable for any deviations. By empowering central probe agencies with independence and accountability, the rule of law can be upheld, safeguarding against abuses of power, violations of human rights, and ensuring timely justice delivery, thereby fostering a truly fair and just legal system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has emphasised on the need for central probe agencies such as Enforcement Directorate(ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) to have a delicate balance between search, seizure powers and privacy rights while speaking at the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on CBI Raising Day on April 1. Today, the Supreme […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[685],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-414160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=414160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414160\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=414160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=414160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=414160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}