SC registers suo moto case in alleged murder of Dhanbad judge in hit and run case while on morning walk

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, Bar & Bench reported.

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.

Judge Anand was hearing some high profile cases. He had recently rejected the bail petitions of two members of a gang of Aman Singh, a criminal/gangster of Uttar Pradesh. The local police has, however, said it was too early to establish any such connection.

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.