The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered translation of audio tapes submitted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as evidence against Tamil Nadu-based Advocate M. Mohammed Abbas, accused of having links with the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).

The Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal passed the orders on a petition filed by the national agency against the August 1 Madras High Court verdict, which granted bail to Abbas. 

Appearing for NIA, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju submitted a pen drive with evidence before the top court of the country.

While observing that there was some controversy regarding the audio tapes, the Apex Court directed the Registry to immediately submit the same to the Registrar General of the Madras High Court for translation and listed the matter for further hearing on September 27.

Representing the Madurai-based lawyer, Senior Advocate R. Basant protested against continued incarceration of Abbas. 

The Apex Court then agreed to respond to it on the next date after the evidence was duly translated.

On August 1, the High Court of Madras had granted bail to Abbas on the grounds that no specific accusation had been levelled by NIA against the lawyer. 

The Bench of Justice M. Sundar and Justice R. Sakthivel took in view the observations made by the trial court that the question of Abbas’ absconding may not arise since he was an Advocate.

It further stated that PFI has not been listed as a ‘terrorist organisation’ in the First Schedule of UAPA, rather it has been declared as an ‘unlawful association’ vide a Government of India notification.

The High Court ruled that there were effectively no Chapter IV and Chapter VI accusations with specificity qua petitioner. 

(Case Title: Union of India vs M Mohamed Abbas)

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said it has been almost 23 years since he started on this journey as a judge but never has he encountered anyone telling him how to take decision in a particular case.

CJI Chandrachud was speaking at the India Today Conclave 2023, where he was questioned about the independence of the Indian judiciary and the pressures that loom large while giving judgments.

This conclave was the first ever such appearance by a sitting Chief Justice. Taking forward the conversation, the CJI acknowledged about the various kinds of pressures, but added that after almost completing 23 years as a judge (also being the longest-serving judge in the judiciary) he was clear of the principles he followed.

CJI mentioned that he never talked to a colleague who was presiding over a case and or questioned as to what was going on in that particular case.

CJI said that they all have a cup of coffee every morning, after which the work begins. He said that there are some lines which we draw for ourselves.

The CJI also said that however in high courts, the judges hear appeals against decisions of colleagues because the decision of a single judge of a high court goes to a division bench of two judges.

CJI also said that if it is about pressure you meant pressre from the executive or political arm of the government,then it’s an absolute no!”

CJI DY Chandrachud also said there are certainly times when the pressure is pressures on the conscience, he also recounted times when certain cases that come before them give a rise to a sense of doubt, and searching for the correct solutions. 

CJI Chandrachud during his speech also focused on the need to completely modernise the Indian judiciary. He added that Justice to his mind is not just a sovereign function, an essential service we should provide.

He also talked about how they have started using AI and machine learning to translate the Supreme Court judgments in English to local languages and reach out to citizens in a language they follow. He revealed that the Supreme Court had a free judgment text portal and search engine.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud told that the Supreme Court of India has constituted a committee for translation of top court’s judgments into regional languages that will be headed by Justice AS Oka.

The CJI said that the access to justice cannot be possible unless the citizens are able to understand it in a language which they speak and comprehend the judgments that we deliver whether in High Court or Supreme Court.

Justice Oka will be heading the committee and its other members include

– Justice Suraj Govindaraj of Karnataka High Court;

– Sharmistha from National Informatics Centre;

– Mitesh Kapra from IIT Delhi;

– Vivek Raghavan from Ek step foundation;

– Supriya Shankaran from Agami.

During the first Phase of this step forward, will, will mark judgments to be translated into four languages-Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Odia.

The CJI said that Supreme Court has constituted a committee chaired by Justice AS Oka who is a dynamic judge of the Supreme Court, and the first step taken is to ensure that the Supreme Court judgments will at least be translated in four languages; Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Oria.

CJI added that a software has been developed by which machine learning will be used to translate Supreme Court judgments into various Indian languages.

He added that but as it is a machine which still requires verification for which retired judicial officers will be employed by the top court.

CJI DY Chandrachud said that the Apex Court is now tapping into the talent of the retired judicial officers who would be paid by the Supreme Court for the work which they can do even sitting at home and verify whether the translation has been done correctly.

It is important to know that CJI also elaborated on why such verification would be necessary.

Citing an example, he said that court begins every judgement where we are making a civil appeal out of an SLP by saying ‘Leave Granted’. If you were to translate that directly into Hindi it would say ‘Avkash prapt ho gaya’ (holiday granted). You don’t want a citizen to be told in the first line of judgement ki ‘Avkash prapt ho gaya.

CJI DY Chandrachud spoke this while speaking at the inauguration of Delhi High Court’s Online e-Inspection Software.

In his speech, the CJI also said that a building committee comprising himself and two judges of the Supreme Court will visit the Delhi High Court on January 30 to examine the new courtrooms, the new parking lot and then try and replicate the same in the apex court.

On January 21,CJI had said that the next step for the Indian judiciary in an increasingly digitised world would be to making Supreme Court judgments available in all Indian languages, possibly with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded the same saying that the idea if implemented will help people, especially youngsters.