Thursday, April 17, 2025

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Questions Absence of FIR in Justice Varma’s Cash Discovery Case

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday raised serious concerns about the lack of an FIR in the ongoing case involving the discovery of large sums of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. The cash was allegedly found in March, after fire officials were called to the judge’s house during Holi celebrations to address a blaze. Dhankhar criticized the pace of the investigation, highlighting that if the case involved an ordinary citizen, the investigation would have proceeded swiftly.

Mamata Banerjee’s Request to Delay Governor’s Murshidabad Visit Denied

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged Governor CV Ananda Bose to postpone his planned visit to Murshidabad, a district in the state recently rocked by communal clashes. The violence, which erupted following the introduction of the newly enacted Waqf Amendment Act, led to the deaths of three people and left several others injured.

Dhaka Halts Indian Yarn Imports Before Delhi Cancels Trans-Shipment Facility

In a significant shift in trade relations, India on Thursday announced the end of an arrangement allowing the trans-shipment of Bangladeshi export cargo to third countries through Indian ports and airports. This decision comes as a response to a series of trade measures by Bangladesh, including the suspension of yarn imports from India and the closure of three land ports along the India-Bangladesh border.

“Supreme Court Transfers Manipur Cases to Assam for Fair Trials Amidst Ethnic Strife”

Latest news"Supreme Court Transfers Manipur Cases to Assam for Fair Trials Amidst Ethnic Strife"
"Supreme Court Transfers 27 Manipur Cases to Assam Courts Amid Ethnical Strife"

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has directed the transfer of 27 cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the ethnic conflicts in Manipur to designated judges in Assam. The move, aimed at ensuring victim and witness protection, expediting trials, and maintaining fairness, was prompted by the need for a conducive trial environment amidst the prevailing situation in Manipur.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, accepted the request made by Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta to shift the CBI cases to magisterial and sessions courts in Assam. The decision stems from concerns regarding potential aspersions against trial judges in Manipur, who might belong to one of the involved communities, and the overall environment in the region.

Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, the bench asked the chief justice of the Guwahati High Court to nominate suitable trial judges for the 27 CBI cases. The court emphasized the need for a fair justice delivery process and highlighted that statements of victims would be recorded in Manipur or their current place of residence, in the presence of a local magistrate.

The court also addressed logistical challenges by allowing the production, remand, and custody of accused to occur online due to distance and security reasons. Additionally, test identification parades (TIP) will be conducted in Manipur under the supervision of a local magistrate. Investigating officers will be permitted to apply for search and arrest warrants online. The bench suggested that judges conversant with the languages spoken in Manipur be designated.

While the decision received support from various quarters, there were reservations expressed by some, including senior advocates Indira Jaising and Colin Gonsalves. They questioned the selection of Assam for trial proceedings and advocated for the continuation of trials in Manipur. In response, the court urged legal experts to acknowledge the realities on the ground and strive for smooth trial preparations.

The bench underlined its willingness to review the decision to shift cases to Assam if circumstances evolve, allowing for trials in Manipur. The court assured that its orders were aimed at achieving a judicially balanced and fair outcome.

The move comes in the backdrop of ethnic clashes between the tribal Kukis and dominant Meiteis, resulting in loss of lives and displacement of tens of thousands. Amid this complex scenario, the Supreme Court’s decision seeks to address the challenges of fair trials while respecting the rights and security of victims and witnesses.

Furthermore, the bench also issued directives on infrastructural facilities and financial allocation for a high-powered committee of retired women high court judges. The committee, appointed by the court to evaluate rescue, relief, and rehabilitation measures in Manipur, focuses on addressing the plight of victims who have lost identification documents and require adequate compensation for rebuilding their lives.

Sources By Agencies

Check out our other content

Check out other tags:

Most Popular Articles