[BREAKING] Supreme Court registers suo motu case on safety of judges after death of Jharkhand judge Uttam Anand

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Friday registered a suo motu case on safeguarding courts and ensuring protection and security of judges. .The case titled IN RE : SAFEGUARDING COURTS AND PROTECTING JUDGES (DEATH OF ADDITIONAL SESSIONS JUDGE, DHANBAD) was registered in the wake of death of Dhanbad Additional District and Sessions judge Uttam Anand after a vehicle rammed into him while he was out on his morning walk killing him.The case was listed before a Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant which on Friday directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Jharkhand to submit a status report on investigation into death of judge Anand within a week.While it was initially believed that the death of judge Anand was an accident, CCTV footage of the incident which surfaced, suggested that the vehicle was deliberately rammed into the judge as he was walking along the edge of the road..The top court stated that it has been apprised that "similar incidents are happening across the country." "Taking into consideration the duty and obligation of the State to create an environment and accord full protection to judicial officers as well as the legal fraternity so that they can perform their duties fearlessly, we deem it appropriate to take up this matter suo motu," reads the order..CJI NV Ramana while taking suo Motu cognisance notes in the order that "gruesome incident has been widely reported in newspapers, and video clippings of the incident are also being circulated on social media platforms, suggesting that it was not a case of simplicitor road accident.".The matter will be heard next on August 6 when the Advocate General of the State of Jharkhand has been directed appear before the bench. .A copy of the order has also been served upon the office of Attorney General for India KK Venugopal for his assistance. .Judge Anand was hearing some high profile cases including the murder case of Ranjay Singh, close aide of Jharia MLA Sanjeev Singh.Moreover, he had recently rejected the bail petitions of two members of a gang of Aman Singh, a criminal/gangster of Uttar Pradesh.After his death, the Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident and is monitoring the issue. The Supreme Court in its order made it clear that its order will not affect the case before Jharkhand High Court and the High Court can continue with the proceedings in the suo motu case initiated by it. .(Read Order)