{
  "id": 4017194,
  "title": "In cases where parties know the truth, ‘judge is on trial’: Supreme Court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/in-cases-where-parties-know-the-truth-judge-is-on-trial-supreme-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T19:11:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-cases-where-parties-know-the-truth-judge-is-on-trial-supreme-court/article71401570.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Supreme Court commenced a 15-page judgment regarding a contentious dispute between a litigant and her former lawyer. Justice Vikram Nath, who authored the recent ruling, pointed out that when parties are already aware of the truth, \"it is the judge who is on trial.\" According to Justice Nath, both parties in the case had failed to be candid and expected vindication from the court. The dispute spanned over a decade, involving a woman who accused a senior police officer in Maharashtra of sexual assault. The woman alleged that her lawyer, the respondent, acted against her interests by coordinating with the police officer, disclosing confidential information, and breaching professional obligations. She sought ₹2 crore in compensation. The lawyer argued that the woman's claims did not include rape or any other sexual offense, and that she was seeking to sensationalize the matter for publicity and career advancement. The Bar Council of India removed the lawyer from the rolls for two years and imposed a fine. Meanwhile, the police officer was acquitted of all charges. The Supreme Court found that the litigation had been manufactured and prolonged by the litigants, each hoping to divert the court's attention from their own actions. The court directed both parties to pay ₹5 lakh each in costs for wasting judicial time that belonged to other litigants seeking genuine relief.",
  "summary": "The Supreme Court has ordered two parties to pay ₹5 lakh each in costs for wasting judicial time with a manufactured controversy that lasted 11 years. This was while genuine litigants waited in queue.\n\nThe court's decision was made in a case where parties were aware of the truth. The court described the situation as a \"judge is on trial\".\n\nThere was a separate case reported in which the Supreme Court of Ghana heard arguments in an application for interlocutory injunction filed by a former CEO. However, no information was provided about the Supreme Court of India in this case.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ghanaian Times",
        "title": "Supreme Court adjourns ruling on Skytrain trial injunction request",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/supreme-court-adjourns-ruling-on-skytrain-trial-injunction-request",
        "published": "2026-08-28T18:05:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}