"Bizzare Prayers": Apex Court While Dismissing Petition By Man Claiming His Mind Is Being Read Through A Machine

The Supreme Court dismissed a petition in which a man alleged that a machine was reading and controlling his thoughts. The petitioner, a teacher, claimed that the machine was obtained from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and requested an order for its deactivation.

The Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah termed the petition "bizarre" and found no grounds for intervention.

"This is the bizarre prayer(s) which has been made by the petitioner... by which the 'brain' of the petitioner is being controlled. We see no scope or reason as to how we can interfere in this matter," the Court stated in its November 8 order.

During the hearing, AoR Krishna Kumar appeared for the petitioner.

Earlier, on September 27, when the matter was taken up, the Court had ordered, "The case of the petitioner is that his brain is being read through a machine. Neither the learned counsel representing the petitioner nor the petitioner, who appears in person, has been able to convey as to what is the real grievance before us. We do not want to dismiss the case straight away and for this reason we direct the petitioner to appear before the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. The concerned person of the Committee shall interact with petitioner and if he is able to comprehend, he shall reduce the case of the petitioner in writing in a precise form and place it before this Court within four weeks. It is also requested that the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee will make efforts to interact through a person who understands the mother tongue of the petitioner i.e. Telugu. List on 08.11.2024.”

Upon review, the Court directed the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) to engage with the petitioner in his native language to better understand his claims. The Committee reported that the petitioner sought a directive to the CBI office in Visakhapatnam to deactivate the alleged device.

"Subsequent to the aforesaid order, the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) tried to interact with the petitioner who was not available initially for a long time. Thereafter, after interacting with the Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority and subsequently taking the assistance of a lawyer i.e. Ms. K.Sarada Devi, who could speak and understand Telugu language with which the petitioner was conversant, the learned Counsel has placed before us in some detail as to what the petitioner wants," the Court noted.

Furthermore, the Court said, "As per the report filed by the SCLSC what we have been able to understand is that the petitioner now wants is that the matter be remanded back to the Visakhapatnam CBI Office, Andhra Pradesh to get enquiry regarding the fake affidavit of Dr.Rajinder Singh, Director CFSL/CBI, New Delhi and find out the person who has given fake affidavit in the name of said Dr.Rajinder Singh and in case it comes to finding of fake affidavit, a direction may be given to the Visakhapatnam CBI Office to de-activate the machine and may further direct the Visakhapatnam CBI Office to de-activate the machine connection which knows the ideas in the brain forthwith."

However, after considering the report, the Court upheld the High Court's decision and dismissed the case.

"We see no scope or reason as to how we can interfere in this matter. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed," the Court ordered.

Cause Title: G Venkateswarlu v. The Director, CFSL (CBI) and Others [Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 22333/2024]

Appearance:-

Petitioner: Advocates Vipin Gupta, Nandani Gupta, Suryansh Gupta, AoR Krishna Kumar

Click here to read/download the Order