New Delhi, May 23: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking action against Maharashtra government officials over protocol lapses during Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai’s first visit to the state on May 18 after taking over the country’s highest judicial post.

A bench of CJI Gavai and Justice A.G. Masih opined that the plea was filed with an intent to obtain “cheap publicity” and termed it a “publicity interest litigation”.

The bench refrained from imposing exemplary costs but asked the PIL litigant to deposit a cost of Rs 7,000.

In its order, the apex court said that soon after CJI Gavai expressed displeasure over the protocol lapse, senior Maharashtra government officials, including the Chief Secretary, came to meet him and expressed regret.

The top court, in a press statement released on Tuesday, said that CJI Gavai stressed that a “trivial issue should not be blown out of proportion” and requested everyone that “the matter be given a quietus”.

Following his taking oath as the 52nd CJI, Justice Gavai on Sunday (May 18) travelled to Mumbai for a felicitation programme by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa. “If the Chief Justice of India is visiting Maharashtra for the first time, and the state’s Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police, and the Mumbai Police Commissioner don’t feel it appropriate to be present, then they need to reflect on that. There’s nothing new about the protocol — it’s a matter of respect from one constitutional institution to another,” the CJI said.

“It’s a question of respect by the other organs of the institution to the judiciary,” he added.

The three pillars of democracy — the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive — are equal, and every organ of the Constitution must reciprocate and show respect to the other, he had said. Following the episode, the Maharashtra government issued protocol guidelines to ensure adherence to official decorum during the visit of the Chief Justice of India to Mumbai and other parts of the state. It designated the CJI as a Permanent State Guest in Maharashtra under the State Guest Rules, 2004. Accordingly, the Chief Justice of India will continue to be entitled to all protocol-related facilities, including accommodation, vehicle arrangements, and security throughout the state during visits.

Mumbai: Mumbai Pakistani spy Jyoti Malhotra also inspected Mumbai. This came to light during the investigation of Jyoti. Jyoti had collected secret information and details of important places for Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Jyoti has also provided details of Indian places in Pakistan by uploading activities related to the itinerary on YouTube. After Jyoti’s visit to Mumbai, now the agencies have started the process of collecting details related to her visit. Jyoti visited Mumbai in 2023 and during this time she also visited three cities. Jyoti’s mobile phone and laptop have also been seized. Jyoti came to Mumbai on 12 May 2023 by Rajdhani Express.

On May 14, she visited many places in the city. She also used to do photography and videography. She reached Mumbai on 20 July 2023 by Garib Rath Express and recorded and collected details of many places for a few days. She came to Mumbai by plane on 3 October 2023 and stayed here for 22 days. During this time she also traveled to Mumbai by metro train and other means. Videography and Tropical Channel also shared details of her visit to Delhi by plane on October 25, 2024, three visits to Mumbai and inspection and observation of the city, visit to Mumbai by luxury bus in July, visit to Ahmedabad by Kankoli Express in August and visit to Delhi by Punjab Mail in 2024.

Jyoti is making many important revelations in the investigation. During her visit to Mumbai, she also visited Lalbagh Ka Raja. Whom she contacted here during her visit to Mumbai and what was the motive behind it is being investigated. Jyoti has not only traveled to India, but she has also traveled to various countries. Even the ISI in Pakistan has hosted her. She has given many secret information about India to Pakistan. Not only this, investigation is also going on to find out what information and details of important establishments Jyoti has given to Pakistan during her visit to Mumbai, and the process of questioning Jyoti’s associates and contacts is also going on. NIA is also interrogating Jyoti.

Gandhinagar, May 23: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will be in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 10th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, the central policy think tank headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The meeting, to be chaired by the Prime Minister, will bring together Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several Union Ministers.

The Governing Council serves as NITI Aayog’s top decision-making body and focuses on key issues related to national development, cooperative federalism, and sectoral policies involving both central and state governments.

During the two-day visit, beginning Saturday, CM Patel will participate in a Chief Ministers’ conclave, being held in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

Sources indicate that following the meeting, Chief Minister Patel is likely to hold discussions regarding Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Gujarat on May 26 and 27, which is expected to include key public events and project inaugurations in the state.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive at the Naliya Airbase in Kutch, where he will interact with soldiers stationed at the forward base near the Indo-Pak border.

PM Modi is also likely to offer prayers at the revered Mata Ashapura temple before addressing a large public gathering in Bhuj.

As part of his focus on infrastructure and indigenous manufacturing, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit Dahod, where he will inaugurate a 9,000-horsepower engine manufactured at the Indian Railways’ diesel locomotive plant.

Additionally, the Prime Minister is set to launch several development projects across Gujarat via video conferencing during the two-day tour.