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India cannot have parallel legal systems for rich and poor, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that India cannot have two separate legal systems, one for the rich and another for those without the resources to get justice, Bar and Bench reported. It added that the existence of a dual legal system will “chip away the legitimacy of the law”.
The court said this while setting aside an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which had refused to revoke the bail of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Rambai Singh’s husband Govind Singh in a murder case. Singh is accused of killing Congress leader Devendra Chaurasia.
Devendra Chaurasia’s son Somesh Chaurasia had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order.
“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 of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy said on Thursday.
The court also took note of the allegations of political pressure made by a trial judge in the case.
“Independence of the judiciary implies independence of each and every judge from political pressures and other external influence and control, as also the…