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The Central Government has today informed the Supreme Court that the Ministry of Home Affairs has mandated all the States to follow the broad system which has been set up for the protection and safeguarding of Judges.

A bench of the Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Aniruddha Bose said, "This is administrative, we do not want to advise the Government, we expect you to consult with states and formulate a strategy to deal with this problem."

The Court was hearing a suo-motu matter for safeguarding the Courts and protecting Judges taken up in light of the Death of Additional Sessions Judge, Uttam Anand in Dhanbad.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta further added that it doesn’t make sense to have a dedicated task force like an industrial task force to be deployed, purpose when adherence to guidelines by states a mandate.

However, The Bar Council of India sought time to file its counter.

The bench while allowing the time to file counter listed the matter after 1 week.

Background: 

Supreme Court had taken earlier taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged mowing down of Dhanbad ADJ Uttam Anand by an Autorickshaw, seeking Status Report of investigation from Jharkhand Government.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice NV Ramana said, “We have come across several instances of attacks on judicial officers and lawyers inside and outside the court premises and we, therefore, want to address the larger issue of safety and security of judicial officers in the country.”

The bench noted that it is the inherent duty of every State to protect judicial officers and lawyers to let them function independently and fearlessly while endeavoring to dispense justice. 

Case Title: In Re: Safeguarding Courts and Protecting Judges (Death of Additional Sessions Judge, Dhanbad)| SMW (Crl) No 2/2021