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Judicial system should be Indianised; Process shouldn’t be like wedding mantras: CJI

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The Indian justice delivery system should be Indianised for the benefit of the country’s population, said Chief Justice of India N.V.Ramana on Saturday.

He also said people should relate and understand the practices, procedures of the courts, the development of the case and efforts should be made towards that.

“It should not be like chanting of mantras in a wedding which most of us do not understand,” Ramana said.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying function at the Madras High Court here, Ramana stated that Indian people look up to the judiciary in times of distress with a firm belief that their rights will be protected by the courts.

Ramana said it is necessary to contemplate on how to improve the functioning of the judiciary and reach out to the people to fulfill their judicial needs.

“This is precisely why I have been a strong proponent of Indianisation of the justice delivery system,” he said.

According to him, Indianisation of the justice delivery system is a moulding of the judicial system for the benefit of Indian people and is a multi-dimensional concept.

“It calls for inclusivity, providing access to people to participate in the proceedings, removal of language barriers, reforms in practice and procedure, development of infrastructure, filling up of vacancies, augmenting the strength of judiciary and so on,” he said.

He said a Judicial Infrastructure Authority both at the national and state level should be set up to implement a National Court Development Project.

“I have sent a comprehensive proposal to the Government of India. It is pending with the Government,” Ramana said.

On the judicial vacancies, he said a proposal has been sent to the central government – to increase the sanctioned strength of judges and fill up the vacancies.

Another issue of Indianisation of the judicial system is the language used in the court.

The common citizen cannot relate to the practices, procedures of our courts. Efforts should be to make the general population an active part of the justice delivery process. The people should understand the ongoing process and development of the case.

“It should not be like chanting of mantras in a wedding which most of us do not understand,” Ramana said.

On the demand for use of regional language in the High Courts as provided in the Constitution, Ramana said it has been debated several times.

There were certain processes that prevented local languages from being adopted in the High Court proceedings. I am sure with the innovation in science and technology and the advancement such as artificial intelligence, some of the issues associated with the introduction of languages in the High Court may be solved in near future, he said.

The practice of law before constitutional courts should be based on one’s intelligence and understanding of law and not mere proficiency in language.

It is time some decisions are taken on these issues after assessment of pros and cons.

Inclusivity is one of the dimensions of Indianisation. Any profession having representation from all classes and sections will be beneficial to all, he remarked.

A strong proponent of higher representation of women from all classes and at the levels in the judicial system Ramana also said inclusivity does not stop with that.

“The social and geographical diversity of a nation must find reflection at all levels of judiciary. Then people will feel it is their own judiciary. A judge with a rural background is better placed to appreciate issues concerning the rural population. A judge from the marginalised section can understand issues of marginalised section,” he added.

On the demand for setting up of regional benches of the Supreme Court Ramana said he was not aware of the central government’s views on the private member bill on the subject introduced by DMK MP P. Wilson.

He said in the same spirit of accessibility, in consultation with other judges in the Supreme Court, a decision has been taken to continue online hearing of miscellaneous cases. On non-miscellaneous cases an advocate can seek permission of the court to appear online.

“This will enable advocates from all over the country to continue their practice before the Supreme Court. I hope this practice continues,” Ramana said.

Entertainment

Satish Shah, who tickled everyone with his comic timing, is no more; he died of kidney failure

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New Delhi, Oct 25: Actor Satish Shah, known for his roles in comedy films, has passed away. The news of his death has sent shockwaves among fans. Indian producer Ashoke Pandit confirmed the actor’s death. He shared an emotional post on social media informing about the actor’s demise.

Indian producer Ashoke Pandit posted a photo of Satish Ravilal Shah on Instagram and wrote, “It is with great sadness and shock that we inform you that our dear friend and a wonderful actor, Satish Shah, passed away a few hours ago due to kidney failure. He was taken to Hinduja Hospital, where he breathed his last. This is a huge loss for our industry.” Ashoke Pandit also shared the actor’s home address on social media.

Satish Shah was born into a Gujarati family. He was a face of television and cinema that brought laughter and laughter. He distinguished himself with his unparalleled acting. Whether it was a small role on TV or a major role on screen, he played them with full dedication.

Shah began his career in 1970 with the film “Bhagwan Parshuram,” but the film failed to bring him recognition. He then appeared in Arvind Desai’s 1978 film “Ajeeb Dastaan.” His role in this film was small, followed by the 1983 film “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron,” which proved to be a milestone in his career.

Satish Shah was last seen in the film “Humshakals,” which was released in 2014. The film starred Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Ram Kapoor in lead roles. The actor played a small supporting role in the film. The film was directed by Sajid Khan and didn’t perform well on screen.

In his personal life, Satish Shah was a very simple person. He didn’t like attending parties and preferred home-cooked food. In an interview, the actor revealed, “I am one of the few people who loves home-cooked food, and the food at my home is as good as any party food.”

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Crime

Rave party serving liquor in dry-state Gujarat raided; 15 detained

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Ahmedabad, Oct 25: Police raided a rave party in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, leading to the detention of 15 people who were consuming alcohol in the dry state.

The Bopal Police acted after receiving a tip-off about the party at Zephyr Farmhouse near Shilaj, where both liquor and drugs were reportedly being used.

Upon reaching the venue, police found 15 individuals, including 13 foreign nationals from Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, and other African countries, alongside two Indians, intoxicated.

Investigations revealed that the organisers had printed special passes for the party, advertising “unlimited alcohol”, showing the scale and planning behind the event.

All 15 attendees have been detained, a case has been registered, and further inquiries are underway to identify the main organisers, the farmhouse owner, and the source of the liquor in a state where alcohol is banned.

Gujarat has maintained a strict prohibition on alcohol since 1960 under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, which bans the sale, consumption, and manufacture of liquor across the state.

The law applies to all forms of alcoholic beverages, including Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), country-made liquor, and spirits. Exceptions exist only for medicinal, industrial, and export purposes, subject to government permission. Violations of the Act carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and seizure of property involved in the illegal trade.

Despite Gujarat’s strict prohibition laws, the illegal liquor trade remains a significant issue.

In 2024, authorities seized approximately 82 lakh bottles of liquor valued at Rs 144 crore across the state. Ahmedabad alone accounted for over 4.38 lakh bottles, with 2,139 cases involving IMFL and 7,796 cases related to country-made liquor. Notably, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) registered 455 cases, confiscating liquor worth Rs 22.5 crore and total items valued at nearly Rs 52 crore.

In a significant operation, the SMC seized over 8,500 bottles of foreign-made liquor worth Rs 1.19 crore in Chotila taluka, Surendranagar.

Additionally, in a mid-sea raid off Una, Rajkot, authorities intercepted a boat carrying liquor worth Rs 25 lakh.

These seizures reflect ongoing efforts to combat the illegal liquor trade, which often involves smuggling from neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

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Crime

Police arrest accused Prashant Bankar in Maharashtra doctor’s suicide case

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New Delhi, Oct 25: Police in Maharashtra’s Satara district arrested one accused on Saturday in connection with the death of a female doctor who allegedly committed suicide after being repeatedly raped by a police officer and being pressurised by an MP to falsify medical reports of accused in cases.

According to officials, the arrested person has been identified as Prashant Bankar, the son of the doctor’s landlord whose name was mentioned in her four-page suicide note.

The deceased doctor, a native of Beed district, was posted as a medical officer at a government hospital in Phaltan, Satara. On Thursday night, she was found hanging in a hotel room under mysterious circumstances. Shockingly, she had written a suicide note on her palm, naming Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane and Prashant Bankar, accusing the police officer of rape and Prashant of mental harassment.

After Prashant’s arrest, police said he will be produced before the court and his custody will be sought for further investigation. Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Badane has been suspended, and a detailed enquiry is underway. Both accused have been booked at the Phaltan Police Station. Satara SP Tushar Doshi confirmed that the rape allegations and Prashant’s role are being thoroughly investigated.

The female doctor who allegedly committed suicide left behind a detailed four-page suicide note apart from the inked note on the palm of her hand, stating that a police officer raped her four times and exerted pressure on her to issue fake fitness certificates for accused persons in police cases. It has now emerged in her note that she was allegedly under pressure not only from police officials but also from a Member of Parliament (MP) and his personal assistants.

The woman doctor, who worked as a medical officer at the Phaltan sub-district hospital, wrote on her palm that she had been raped four times by Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane and subjected to mental and physical abuse for over five months.

Originally from Beed district, the doctor had been working at the hospital for 23 months.

Gopal Badane is a police officer, while Prashant Bankar is the son of the landlord in the house where the doctor lived.

She had complained 21 times to various authorities, but no action was taken against her tormentors.

Recounting a particular instance in her note, the doctor said she had refused to issue a certificate and two personal assistants of an MP had come to the hospital and made her speak to him over the phone. She stated in her note that during that conversation, the MP had threatened her indirectly.

Her cousin also made similar allegations about the doctor being made to falsify medical certificates.

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