CBI doesn't respond to threats faced by lower court judges: CJI

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has alleged that the CBI and other investigation agencies do not respond when lower court judges complain about the threats they face. He was referring to the recent murder of Jharkhand district judge Uttam Anand.

Criticising the investigation agencies, he noted that "they do not help at all".

He pointed out that harming the judiciary when favourable orders are not passed in high-profile cases has become a trend. He added that the CBI has shown no change in its attitude, reported NDTV.

"It is an unfortunate case of a young judge (Dhanbad) who lost his life. Dhanbad is a coal mafia area. Despite that, the state did nothing. The state has to provide security," said the Chief Justice.

He insisted that the situation has to change, and he is making the statement with some sense of responsibility. The Supreme Court took up Uttam Anand's murder case on its own, saying that it had "wider ramifications".

The CJI has ordered the Centre to respond to a pending petition regarding protecting the judges within a week. He also noted that abusive messages on WhatsApp and Facebook are sent to Judges to harass them mentally.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, assisting the court, stated that many judges in the country have been receiving threats in the last six months. The petition also noted that antisocial elements were entering into court premises and requested the formation of a separate force like the Railway Protection Force.

District judge Uttam Anand was killed on July 28 when an auto hit him during his morning run. The CCTV footage showed that it was not a hit-and-run incident. The auto was seen going straight to the victim with the intention of hitting him. Judge Anand was handling the cases of mafia killings in Dhanbad and had rejected bail to two gangsters.