Wish I could join protests, says CJI

Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on Monday said he wanted to participate in the anti-gang rape protests in the Capital, but could not.

Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir on Monday said he wanted to participate in the anti-gang rape protests in the Capital, but could not.

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"I wish I were there, but I could not," the CJI said while speaking to journalists after the 6th conference on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.

Justice Kabir said the outburst of public anger after the incident was "justified and absolute necessary". The CJI gave a detailed account of his views on the increasing number of cases of violence against women during the conference.

"What happened that day (December 16) was not something new... but it caught the imagination of the people…..it was fully justified. What started as a protest, as a mark of showing one's anger, it was all genuine, absolutely necessary....", Justice Kabir said.

The chief justice spoke about his nephew who had participated in the protests. "My nephew was also beaten up in the protest (at India Gate)….the protest was later hijacked," said Kabir.

He said he appreciated the peaceful protest and the number of people which had gathered. "I salute everybody who took part (in the protests). I wish I had been there, but I could not," he said.

But the chief justice also cautioned against violent protests. "We cannot afford certain types and groups of people from exploiting such situation to their own ends," he said.