Supreme Court Considers Plea for After-Hours Judicial Access

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a public interest petition seeking a standardized mechanism to enable citizens to approach courts even after regular working hours in urgent situations. The plea argues that judicial access should be available around the clock in cases involving illegal detention, midnight demolitions, or any incident affecting the fundamental right to life. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices to all High Courts while observing that safeguards would be necessary to prevent misuse through non-urgent litigation.

In a separate matter, the apex court strongly criticized comedian Samay Raina and YouTubers Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani over a case involving remarks that allegedly hurt the sentiments of persons with disabilities. The Bench held that the individuals had violated earlier directions of the court and imposed a fine of ₹3 lakh each. The judges observed that such conduct reflected disregard for judicial orders and emphasized the need for responsible behaviour by social media influencers.