Context: 

The Supreme Court has made a decision about charge sheets in criminal cases and their availability to the public.

• This ruling has been met with mixed reactions and has implications for those pushing for greater transparency in the criminal justice system.

Contradiction with Previous Order:

• The Supreme Court previously ruled that First Information Reports (FIRs) should be made available on the relevant agency’s website within 24 hours of registration.
• However, the latest ruling stated that charge sheets cannot be considered as public documents and cannot be shared with anyone other than the accused and the victim.

Changing Times:

• In the past, the judicial system was very confidential and protected from criticism.
• Nowadays, judges are open to criticism and even personal details can be subject to public debate.
• The Supreme Court’s decision to keep charge sheets private may not be supported by those pushing for greater transparency in the judicial system.

Advocating for Transparency:

• Some believe that sharing a charge sheet with the public, even before the trial begins, is necessary for public interest.
• This would allow for outside scrutiny of the investigation and prevent malicious or biased prosecutions.
• Making the charge sheet available to the public could also improve the quality of investigations and reduce false prosecutions.

News Source: The Hindu