New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the alleged murder of Dhanbad District and Sessions Judge, Uttam Anand. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said that there have been cases of alleged assault on several judicial officers and lawyers inside and outside the court.
The bench comprising of Justice Surya Kant has taken suo moto on the larger issue of "safeguarding courts and protecting judges". It further observed that it is the duty of the states to protect the judicial officers so that they can function independently without any fear and deliver justice. Next week, the apex court is likely to send notices to all states regarding the matter.
The SC has directed the state chief secretary and Director General of Police Jharkhand to submit a report on the status of the investigation in a week. The apex court also clarified that it is not interfering in the proceedings of the Jharkhand High Court.
The judge, who had met with an accident on Wednesday during morning walk, succumbed to his injuries at Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and hospital (SNMMCH). Dhanbad Police have arrested an auto driver along with another person in connection with the case.
The matter was also raised in Supreme Court by lawyer Vikas Singh, President of the SC BAR Association who demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Replying to this, the CJI informed Singh that the case has been taken up by Jharkhand HC. It is known that Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan of the Jharkhand HC took a suo moto cognizance of the Dhanbad judge's death. On the other hand, family members and judges met the Jharkhand DIG alleging that Uttam Anand was murdered.
Also read: Dhanbad judge death: Police arrest auto driver, matter raised in SC
