Can’t have parallel legal systems for rich and poor: Supreme Court

New Delhi, July 22

Noting that an independent and impartial judiciary immune from political pressures is the cornerstone of democracy, the Supreme Court on Thursday cancelled the bail granted to a Madhya Pradesh BSP MLA’s husband accused of killing Congress leader Devendra Chourasia.

“India cannot have two parallel legal systems, one for the rich and the resourceful and those who wield political power and influence and the other for the small men without resources and capabilities to obtain justice or fight injustice,” a Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said. “The existence of a dual system will only chip away the legitimacy of the law. The duty also falls on the state machinery to be committed to the rule of law,” it said. “The colonial mindset meted out to the district judiciary must change, it is only then that civil liberties for every citizen, be it accused victim or civil society, will be meaningfully preserved in our trial courts which are first line of defence for those who are being wronged,” the top court noted.

It reversed the MP High Court order refusing to cancel the bail granted to murder accused Govind Singh, husband of BSP MLA Rambai Singh. Chaurasia was killed in March 2019. — TNS