Like any short flimsy appearances, Chief Justices of India comes and goes in a very short span of time. So far Indian judicial system has hardly managed to spare enough time to the CJIs to carry off ideas they have to bring change about the administration in the country. The mounting heaps of pending cases barely leave them with any time to think apart from it. However, kudos to the outgoing Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who managed to pronounce verdicts on several remarkable cases before bidding adieu.
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is retiring on October 02, 2018 and will be succeeded by senior-most Supreme Court judge, Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Justice Misra took over as 45th Chief Justice of India and held the position for 13 months. In his final week in office, he has presided on a number of benches that delivered key verdicts on crucial cases.
Here is the list of some of his historical judgments:
Verdict on Triple Talaq
The Supreme Court held the Muslim practice of Triple Talaq unconstitutional and struck it down by 3:2 majority on August 22, 2017. The top court said Triple Talaq violates the fundamental rights of Muslim women as it irrevocably ends marriage without any chance of reconciliation.
Verdict ordering Delhi police to upload FIR on their website within 24 hrs
The Supreme Court ordered States and Union Territories to upload, on police or government websites, First Information Reports (FIRs) within 24 hours of their registration in police stations on September 06, 2017. “Where liberty of a person is at stake and the criminal law is set in motion, the accused should have all the information,” the Bench observed.
Verdict on 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder case
The Supreme Court upheld the Delhi High Court and trial court decision to award death to all four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder on May 05, 2017. The judgment was received with an applause from those in the court.
Reservation in promotion for SC/ST government employees
The Supreme Court turned down an appeal to reconsider its own earlier order that had rejected the idea of reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs) in government job promotions on September 26.
Verdict on Right to Privacy of Women
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the Right to Privacy is a Fundamental Right on August 24, 2017. The right is protected by life and personal liberty under Article 21 and by the freedoms guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, said the top court.
Verdict on Decriminalisation of section 377
The Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on 6 September 2018, announcing the verdict, the court reversed its own 2013 judgement of restoring Section 377 by stating that using the section of the IPC to victimize homosexuals was unconstitutional, and henceforth, a criminal act.
Verdict on Validity of Aadhaar
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Aadhaar on September 26, 2018 and struck down Section 57 of Aadhaar Act. It said, private companies cannot ask for Aadhaar. It won’t be mandatory for opening of bank accounts, mobile connections.
Verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
The Supreme Court turned down two pleas in the Ayodhya case on September 27, 2018. One that directly deals with the way the disputed land was split according to the 2010 Allahabad High Court ruling, and another that would have had a direct impact on the Supreme Court’s final verdict in the case.
Verdict on Adultery
The Supreme Court strikes down a colonial-era law that made adultery punishable with a jail term and a fine on September 27, 2018 and held that adultery is not a crime.
Verdict on women entry in Sabarimala Temple
The Supreme Court lifted centuries’ old prohibition of women between ages 10 and 50 from entering Sabarimala temple in Kerala on Friday. “The practice in Sabarimala temple violates the rights of Hindu women. It has to be in harmony with the Constitution” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
Verdict on Bhima Koregaon arrest
In a setback for activists, the Supreme Court ordered an extension of the house arrest of activists for four more weeks on September 28, 2018.
Verdict on Live Streaming of court hearing
The Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to bring its courtroom proceedings under public glare by agreeing to live-streaming of court functioning, paving the way for people to watch the courtroom drama live as it unfolds on September 26, 2018.
The outgoing Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra thanked the nation ahead of his farewell and said, “I am thankful for all the affection and kindness I received. I did what I thought was right. I must admit and confess, some blessings are good for me, too much blessing is not so good.”
Also Read: All you need to know about the first Chief Justice of India from Northeast
