Inside Raisina Hill: Weekly Wrap From The Power Corridor-XI

As one walks down the Hill along the Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path, come other edifices — Rail Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, and Shashtri Bhavan on one side and Sena Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan and Vanijya Bhavan on the other. The bureaucrats who adorn the offices in these buildings decide on India's economic, social, and industrial policies. There are many tales to be told from the corridors of these grandiose buildings. We let you in on some of them here in this week's edition of "Inside Raisina Hill".

Ex-CJI D Y Chandrachud Turns Professor

Judges, after hectoring lawyers and litigants, often turn out to be the best teachers in this country. Former Chief Justice of India Justice D Y Chandrachud has joined the National Law University (NLU), Delhi as a ‘Distinguished Professor’, and many hope he will be able to instil more than just legal knowledge to his future students.

The NLU, while announcing the appointment of Justice Chandrachud as ‘Distinguished Professor’, termed the development a “transformative chapter” in India’s legal education. In an ‘X’ post, carrying the photographs of the ex-CJI and Vice-Chancellor G S Bajpai, the University said, “We are profoundly honoured to welcome Justice D Y Chandrachud, former Chief Justice of India, as a Distinguished Professor at National Law University Delhi.”

NLU Delhi will establish a Centre for Constitutional Studies, where Chandrachud will guide research. Hopefully, his guidance will improve the way the Constitution is interpreted by future jurists.

Bajpai told the media, "Justice Chandrachud's legacy in constitutional morality, transformative constitutionalism, and dynamic interpretation of fundamental rights, offers unparalleled empirical and doctrinal material for academic inquiry.”

The university is also planning to shake things up this July, with a new, highbrow initiative. It's called “In the Spirit of Justice: The DYC Distinguished Lecture Series”. And yes, it’s just as grand as it sounds. The whole point? To stir up some serious legal tea, inspired by none other than the ex-CJI himself.

Now, if you're wondering why he’s the talk of the town, let me fill you in. According to the university’s own oh-so-reverent write-up, Justice Chandrachud’s career is basically the gold standard — gliding from academia straight to the Supreme Court bench with an unshakeable dedication to justice, constitutional values, and, of course, the rule of law. Swoon.

Let’s rewind: This legal rockstar served as the 50th CJI until his retirement in November 2024.

And during his two-year stint at the top? Iconic. He was the progressive voice the judiciary desperately needed — ruling on everything from decriminalisation of same-sex relations to the landmark right to privacy, and oh yes, even the headline-grabbing Ayodhya dispute.

But wait, there’s more. Before he was making history in Delhi, he was presiding over benches in Bombay, and later headed the Allahabad High Court. And did we mention he’s Harvard-educated? Yes, that Harvard — both LLM and doctorate, thank you very much. Add a BA from St Stephen’s and an LLB from Delhi University, and you've got the legal world's answer to a celebrity scholar.

So, mark your calendars, law nerds and policy wonks — this lecture series promises to be the place where law meets legacy, all under the glittering gaze of Chandrachud’s jurisprudence. Honestly? We can’t wait.

Apple Devices Vulnerable, CERT-In Asks Users To Update

Users of Apple devices often think they are using the safest online device. However, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has issued an alert, suggesting multiple vulnerabilities in the operating software of Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

These flaws can give attackers full access to user data or even crash the devices entirely.

In its advisory, CERT-In has issued a high-severity warning to users of iPhones and iPads, urging them to update their devices immediately, as the vulnerabilities affect a broad range of Apple models, both older and newer versions.

The most serious issue is related to Apple’s Darwin notification system. A senior CERT-IN official said, “This vulnerability allows any application, even without special permissions, to send sensitive system-level notifications. If misused, this flaw could potentially crash the device, rendering it unresponsive until manually restored.”

These vulnerabilities can allow attackers to bypass built-in security protections, steal personal and financial information, execute unauthorised commands, or lock users out of their own devices.

To protect the devices, CERT-In said in its advisory, “All users are strongly advised to update their devices to the latest available version of iOS or iPadOS without delay.”

It went on to further caution against installing unverified apps, and has recommended users to watch out for signs of unusual behaviour on their devices, which may signal an attack.

“With Apple’s growing user base in India, the alert highlights the rising need for digital caution. Regular updates and safe device habits are now more important than ever,” CERT-In noted.

TV Channels Barred From Using Air Raid Sirens

While reporting the recent Indo-Pak military stand-off, particularly between April 8 and 10, various TV channels started using the sound of air raid sirens in their live reporting. This was after the Indian air strike on alleged terror hubs in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) immediately cautioned and advised all TV news channels to refrain from using Civil Defence air raid siren sounds.

In its advisory, the Directorate General of Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards under the MHA, said, “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 (1) (w) (i) of the Civil Defence Act, 1968, all media channels are hereby requested to refrain from using Civil Defence air raid siren sounds in their programmes, other than for educating the community.”

Stressing that regular use of sirens in entertainment or news content can reduce their effectiveness, the advisory said people may start ignoring these sounds, assuming them to be just part of a TV show or broadcast. This, it further warned, can lead to confusion during a real emergency.

In an optimistic tone, the MHA also conveyed that it looks forward to the media’s “support in augmenting the civil defence preparedness in terms of the Civil Defence Act, 1968.”

Earlier, the Government of India had also asked media platforms not to provide live coverage or “source-based” reports on ongoing operations against Pakistan, as well as anti-terror operations in the interest of national security, saying premature disclosure “may inadvertently assist hostile elements”.

UP May Get First Woman DGP

The race for the top post in Uttar Pradesh Police begins, as the date of retirement (May 31) of incumbent 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Prashant Kumar nears.

It is, however, yet to be known if the UP government will send a panel of names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), or opt for its own amended rules for selecting the new Director General of Police (DGP).   

Reliable sources at the UPSC reveal that the state government has so far neither forwarded a panel of names for the next DGP, nor constituted a committee under the recently amended rules for selecting Kumar’s successor.  

Along with Kumar, two more senior IPS officers of the UP cadre — DG (Jail) P V Ramasastri of the 1989 batch, and DG (Training, Police Headquarters) Sanjay M Tarde of the 1994 batch — are retiring on May 31. This is going to affect the seniority list of police officers in the state.

Under the circumstances, officers like Sandeep Salunke of the 1990 batch — who is DG (State Human Rights Commission), Daljit Singh Chaudhary of 1990 batch — who is DG (BSF), Renuka Mishra of the 1990 batch — a DG attached to DGP headquarters, and Tilottama Verma of the 1990 batch — the DG (Training), are seen as front-runners for the coveted job.

The grapevine says that UP may get its first woman DGP, with Tilottama Verma a shoo-in for the top post. She has six months left in her tenure and is among the senior-most officers in contention.

Verma brings extensive experience to the table, including a long stint with the CBI. Her husband, Ashish Gupta, a 1989 batch IPS officer, may also have been in the reckoning, had he not applied for VRS last month.

(Contributed by Pawan Kumar, Mahua Sengupta Venkatesh & Jayanta Roy Chowdhury; curated by Abhijit Mukhopadhyay)