PROBE NEEDS AND PRIVACY RIGHTS: CJI CHANDRACHUD

The CJI was delivering the 20th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture on “Adopting Technology to Advance Criminal Justice.” The lecture is held on CBI Day, marking the day when the Central Bureau of Investigation was established in 1963. CBI Director Praveen Sood, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Attorney General for India R Venkataramani were present at the event.

The BNSS and the BAS replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Evidence Act respectively.

While underlining the complexities involved in investigation and trial of a corruption charge, the CJI called for a “swift” delivery of justice.

“To prosecute or defend in a CBI case is no easy task. Because of the nature of the investigation undertaken by the CBI, the record and documentary evidence is bulky and complicated. Many scientific and field specific expert witnesses require scrutiny. The number of oral witnesses cited by the prosecution may run into triple digits. The nature of crime may also require close scrutiny of the functioning of a government department or the specialised field,” the CJI said.

“The justice delivery mechanism must be swift. The life of the accused is altered and their reputation is significantly hurt when they are accused of an offence. Delays in the disposal of cases therefore become a significant impediment in the process of justice delivery,” he said.