NEW DELHI: Noting that the premier investigative agencies of the country have been spread too thin, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Monday said they must only focus on cases that involve national security and crimes against the nation.
Addressing the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture on CBI Raising Day, CJI Chandrachud also highlighted the evolving crime landscape due to technology, which has been posing complex challenges for the investigative agency and the entire criminal justice system.
“The CBI is being increasingly asked to delve into a diverse array of criminal cases beyond its role as anti-corruption investigative agency. This places a huge responsibility on the CBI to live up to its motto,” he said.
Asking investigative agencies to pick their battles, the Chief Justice said, “I think we have spread out the premier investigative agencies too thin. They must only focus on those that concern national security and crimes of economic offences against the nation," adding that the agency consists largely of officers on deputation.
The CJI also proposed digitizing the investigation process, starting from the filing of First Information Reports, as a solution. Leveraging technology is crucial to mitigate delays due to the high volume of cases, he said.
“All arms of the criminal justice administration and all stakeholders including the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) must collaborate by holding workshops to help confront challenges we face,” he noted.
Chandrachud further stressed that in the realm of criminal justice, “the delicate balance between search and seizure powers and individual privacy rights” stands at the cornerstone of a fair and just society. “At the heart of this balance lies the need to uphold due process, while ensuring the effective functioning of law enforcement agencies,” he added.
Highlighting that structural reforms should upgrade the probe agency, the CJI said harnessing artificial intelligence is essential for optimal outcomes, as it can prove to be a “game changer” in criminal justice, capable of revolutionising investigations by mining leads and data with accuracy.