3 HC JUDGES, 34 JUDICIAL OFFICERS HAVE SUCCUMBED TO COVID-19: CJI
NEW DELHI: The Indian judiciary has been impacted physically and psychologically by the coronavirus, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana said on Thursday as he disclosed that 34 trial court judges and three high court judges have lost their lives to the virus over the past year.
“This pandemic has affected everyone. With great pain and agony, I must state certain facts... As per the data available, 2,768 judicial officers and 106 judges of the high courts have tested positive. We are yet to receive the data from two major high courts. 34 judicial officers and three judges of the high courts have lost their life, battling this pandemic,” the CJI said.
Justice Ramana was speaking at the launch of a mobile application to help journalists get access to court proceedings conducted through video-conferencing. “Everyone has been deeply affected by this pandemic, including my brother and sister judges in the Supreme Court. The secretary general, the registrars, most of the staff of the Supreme Court and their families have suffered. Apart from the physical impact of this pandemic, the psychological and mental strain has been terrible. Despite this demoralising and fear-inducing environment, everyone is rendering service to their best capacity, to ensure that justice continues to be rendered,” he said.
The CJI added that approximately 800 registry staff in the SC have tested positive. He also underlined the role of the media in reporting court proceedings. “The role of the media assumes importance in the process of disseminating information,” emphasised the CJI.