Madras HC judge seeks session with psychologist to ‘understand same-sex relationships better’
Ultimately in this case, the words must come from my heart and not from my head, and the same will not be possible if I am not fully ‘woke’ on this aspect JUSTICE N ANAND VENKATESH, Madras high court judge
A Madras high court judge on Wednesday fixed an appointment with a psychologist to understand same sex orientation better before recording his judgment in a case pertaining to a lesbian couple who sought protection from their birth families who were opposed to their relationship, and directed the Tamil Nadu police to close the First Information Report filed on the basis of a missing person’s complaint filed by the parents of both women.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh said that he would want to undergo an educational session with Vidhya Dinakaran, a citybased psychologist, while hearing the petition.
“Ultimately in this case, the words must come from my heart and not from my head, and the same will not be possible if I am not fully “woke” on this aspect,” justice Venkatesh said.
“For this purpose, I want to subject myself for psycho-education with Vidhya Dinakaran and I would request the psychologist to fix a convenient appointment for the same. I honestly feel that such a session with a professional will help me understand same-sex relationships better and will pave way for my evolution.”
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to hear a PIL seeking a direction to the Serum Institute of India and the Bharat Biotech to sell their COVID-19 vaccines at a uniform rate of ₹150 (plus GST) per dose.
The public interest litigation (PIL), filed last week by Mumbaibased advocate Fayzan Khan and three law students, had challenged the different rates of Covid-19 vaccines for the Centre and state governments.
The plea was mentioned on Thursday by the petitioner’s advocate, Vivek Shukla, before a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni, seeking urgent hearing. The HC, however, said the petition should have been filed before the Supreme Court which, while taking up suo motu (on its own) cognisance of matters pertaining to COVID-19, had said it would hear all pan-India issues.
“The Supreme Court has said issues that have pan-India effect will be dealt with by them and pricing is a phenomenon applicable all over India. We are not entertaining it (PIL) as the apex court has fairly covered it,” the court said.
The HC also said the pricing of Covid-19 vaccines is a universal issue that concerns the whole nation and hence, the petitioners should approach the Supreme Court. Advocate Shukla agreed and said the petition would be withdrawn.
The PIL, filed on April 24, said the Covid-19 vaccine is presumed to be an essential commodity and hence, its management and distribution cannot be left in the hands of private companies.
“These pharma giants are milking the fear psychosis of the increased death rates due to Covid-19,” it said. On Wednesday, the SII announced that it would reduce the price of its vaccine to the state governments.