The Supreme Court on Friday expressed concern that the CBI was not helping the judiciary, adding that there is  a new trend developing in the country where judges can’t even lodge a complaint. The top court was hearing a suo motu case on the issue of safeguarding courts and protecting judges in the wake of recent incident of alleged mowing down of a judge at Dhanbad.

“In one or two places, the court ordered a CBI inquiry. It is very sorry to say that CBI has done nothing in more than one year. In one place, I know, the CBI has done nothing. I think we have expected some changes in CBI’s attitude. But there is no change in the attitude of the CBI. I am sorry to observe this but this is the situation,” said Chief Justice N V Ramana, who was heading a bench which also comprised Justice Surya Kant, according to PTI. 

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The bench added that the situation was such that in criminal cases where high-profile persons are involved, if they do not get expected orders from the court they start maligning the judiciary.

“This is a new trend developed in the country unfortunately. There is no freedom to a judge even to give a complaint. Such a situation is created,” the bench added, reports PTI.

The apex court said there are several criminal cases involving gangsters and high-profile persons and at some places, judges of the trial courts as well as high courts are being threatened not only physically but also mentally through abusive messages on Whatsapp or Facebook.

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“They think it is not a priority item for them. The IB, CBI they are not helping the judiciary at all. I am making this statement with a sense of responsibility and I know the incident that is the reason I am saying this. I do not want to divulge more than this,” the CJI said, according to the agency

The Attorney General said that judges dealing with criminal cases are very vulnerable and said there has to be safety measures for them. He said judges were more vulnerable than the bureaucrats who take decisions within the four corners of their rooms.

Meanwhile, the bench issued notice to the CBI after it was informed by the Jharkhand government that investigation into the death of the judge in Dhanbad has been handed over to the probe agency.

The apex court also asked all the states to file status reports explaining what security they are providing to the judicial officers. To this, Jharkhand’s advocate general Rajiv Ranjan said that a 22-member special investigation team (SIT) had been set up, which had arrested the two drivers of the auto-rickshaw that hit the judge when he was on morning walk on July 28.

Ranjan said the case has now been handed over to the CBI. “So, you have washed off your hands?,” the bench said.

Referring to the Dhanbad incident, the bench said it is an unfortunate case where a young judicial officer lost his life. “We cannot ignore the state’s negligence. We know in the Dhanbad area there are mafias, coal mafias. Advocates were killed, judges were attacked but in spite of that, state has not done anything,” the bench observed.