Judge Uttam Anand's Killing : CBI's Report Does Not Indicate Anything On Motive, Says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday observed that the report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the suspicious killing of Jharkhand judge Uttam Anand does not indicate anything on motive or reason behind the crime."There is nothing in the sealed cover", the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana told Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta as the matter was taken.The Solicitor General replied that whatever development has taken place after the CBI took over has been given in the sealed cover."Mr Mehta, that is not the issue that we want. We want something concrete. Your people have not indicated anything about the motive or reason", the CJI remarked.In response, the Solicitor General said that the persons who were in the vehicle which knocked down Judge Uttam Anand are under custody, and he cannot reveal more as the interrogation of the accused is going on. The bench,also comprising Justices Vineet Saran and Justice Surya Kant, directed the CBI to submit weekly reports on the progress of the investigation to the Jharkhand High Court and requested the Chief Justice of the High Court to monitor the investigation. The directions were issued by the Bench while hearing its suo motu case regarding the killing of Judge Uttam Anand, who was knocked down by a vehicle while on his morning jog at Dhanbad on July 28.The Bench has directed the suo motu case to be tagged along with another writ petition which was filed before the top Court in 2019 pertaining to the security of Judicial officers where notice has already been issued notice to States and Union of India. "This court has taken up the matter to make an attempt to resolve the alarming situation in the county where lawyers and Judicial officers are being terrorised." the bench noted."We expect you all file counter in that also", the bench told the Union and the States.The Supreme Court had on Friday sought the presence of the CBI in the next hearing to apprise the court of the progress in the investigation in the case.The Bench had also sought the early response of the Union of India to a writ petition filed in 2019, seeking a special protection force for judges and courts. The CJI said that though the writ petition was filed in 2019, the Centre is yet to file its counter-affidavit.Further, while flagging the State of Jharkhand's negligence in the case of Judge Uttam Anand, the Court had asked all States to respond and file a status report with respect to what kind of security they have provided to judicial officers.While taking suo motu cognisance of the case on July 30th, the top court had directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police Jharkhand to submit a report on status of inquiry in 1 week. The bench had added that it is concerned with the larger issue of nature of the incident and the steps taken by the state governments for the protection of judicial officers inside and outside the court premises.The bench observed that in view of similar incidents happening across the country, the issue requires a larger consideration for a detailed examination of the issue of the protection of judicial officers and the interests of the legal fraternity.The suo motu cognisance was taken a day after President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Senior Advocate Vikas Singh had mentioned the incident before the CJI, urging the Court to take suo motu cognizance.Disturbing CCTV visuals of judge Uttam Anand who was posted as Additional District and Sessions Judge at Dhanbad, being mowed down by a vehicle had emerged, suggesting that the killing was deliberate, and sending shock waves across the legal fraternity(Cases: In Re Safeguarding Courts and Protecting Judges(Death of Additional Sessions Judge, Dhanbad)- SMW(Crl) 2/2021 and Karunakar Mahalik vs Union of India - WP(C) 1422/2019)

Judge Uttam Anand's Killing : CBI's Report Does Not Indicate Anything On Motive, Says Supreme Court

Srishti Ojha

A Bench comprising CJI NV Ramana, Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Surya Kant has requested the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court to monitor the investigation.

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