Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Monday refused to fuel any further the controversy over the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, saying tersely the judges decide a case “according to the Constitution and the law”.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, the CJI also spoke candidly about the five-judge constitution bench verdict refusing to legalise same sex marriages and said the outcome of a case is never personal to a judge.

The 50th Chief Justice of India, however, acknowledged the “long and hard battle” queer couples fought for realisation of their rights.

On October 17, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court refused to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriage but recognised equal rights for queer people and their protection.

“Once you decide a case you kind of distance yourself from the outcome. Outcomes are never personal to us as a judge. I never have any regrets. Yes, I have been in a majority in many cases and minority in many cases. But the important part of the life of a judge is never to associate yourself with a cause. Having decided a case, I leave it at that,” he said.

On the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370 and its criticism, he said, the judges speak their mind through their judgment which becomes a public property after the pronouncement and people in a free society can always make their opinion about it.

“So far as we are concerned we decide according to the Constitution and the law. I don’t think it will be appropriate for me either to respond to the criticism or mount a defence to my judgment. What we have said in my judgment is reflected in the reason present in the signed judgment and I must leave it at that,” the CJI said.

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‘Donkey Flight’ is a dangerous illegal backdoor route undertaken by many Indians to immigrate to countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada. The issue has come to spotlight after a plane carrying suspected victims of human trafficking was rerouted to India while on its way to Nicaragua after being detained in France. NDTV’s Mohammad Ghazali brings this ground report from Punjab and Haryana region as to why young people are taking this dangerous route for their foreign dreams.

Four people were shot dead and several others injured in fresh violence in Manipur on New Year’s day, following which curfew was reimposed in the five valley districts of the state. A group of men, yet to be identified, came with automatic weapons for extortion, locals in Thoubal district claimed.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh, in a video message, condemned the violence and appealed to the people to maintain peace.

“I express my immense sadness over the killing of innocent people. We have mobilised police teams to catch the culprits. I fold my hands and appeal to the residents of Lilong (where the incident happened) to help the government in finding the culprits. I promise that the government will do everything in its power to give justice under the law,” he said.

He has reached out to all the stakeholders and is holding an urgent meeting of all ministers and ruling party MLAs.

Following the fresh violence, curfew was reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, officials said.

Two days ago, four security forces were injured in a gunfight between suspected insurgents and police commandos in Manipur’s border town Moreh. Insurgents fired several RPGs which exploded inside the CDO outpost building at Moreh Turelwangma Leikai where the commandos were staying, officials said.

Manipur made headlines for much of 2023 as it saw one of the worst ethnic conflicts that broke out on May 3, resulting in more than 180 deaths and leaving nearly 60,000 people homeless.