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Started 1 week ago · Updated 3 days ago

Manoj Kumar Sharma Assumes Chief Justice Role Amid Judicial Distrust and Reform Plans

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Manoj Kumar Sharma has assumed the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, pledging to uphold judicial independence and public trust. His appointment, bypassing more senior judges, has drawn criticism regarding potential politicization, while Sharma aims to implement reforms including a digital e-court system and specialized benches to address case backlogs and enhance transparency.

• Sharma, who was fourth in seniority, was recommended by the Constitutional Council and confirmed through a parliamentary hearing, taking office on May 19.
• He has outlined an 18-point roadmap for judicial reform, focusing on integrating all court activities into an IT network within one year, including paperless archiving and virtual hearings.
• The judiciary faces challenges including low morale among judges, public distrust, and fears of political interference, exacerbated by recent events like arson at the Supreme Court.
• Sharma's reform plan includes establishing specialized benches for commercial cases and adopting pre-litigation mediation systems, alongside using technology to combat corruption.
• There are concerns that the current government, led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party, may be attempting to influence the judiciary, with several vacant judge positions in the Supreme Court.