New Delhi, Aug 26: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday said the judiciary’s governing principle is that artificial intelligence may augment judicial reasoning, but it cannot substitute judicial conscience, and that a permanent apex body has been proposed to supervise the adoption and accountability of the new technology.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Ulrich Herrmann, the presiding judge of the Federal Court of Justice at Karlsruhe in Germany, CJI Kant said that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in certain defined support functions such as legal research, judgement translation into 16 languages and as a conversational interface for citizens to look for case status and procedures.

He said that while these tools are designed to reduce repetitive work, they do not determine judicial outcomes.

“Artificial intelligence may augment judicial reasoning, but it cannot substitute judicial conscience. Draft regulations from the Supreme Court’s AI Committee permit administrative uses such as scheduling, transcription and translation, while barring AI from assessing witness credibility, flight risk, recidivism or bail eligibility; a permanent apex body has been proposed to supervise the adoption and accountability of AI,” he said.

“Our two judiciaries share the same underlying responsibility: to preserve judicial independence and public confidence while adapting our institutions to new forms of litigation and new expectations of access.

“Technology and administrative reform can support this responsibility, but neither can replace careful adjudication, human judgment and fidelity to law,” he said.

The CJI said that institutional mediation centres, Lok Adalats and digital Lok Adalats, including the Supreme Court’s recent special Lok Adalat, ‘Samadhan Samaroh’, have brought settlement within reach of parties well beyond major cities, supported by trained professionals, case managers and secure digital systems.

“As two major trading partners, our judiciaries and mediation institutions stand to gain from exchanging experience on cross-border commercial mediation, the recognition and enforcement of mediated settlements, and joint training for mediators handling India-Germany commercial disputes,” he said.

At the outset, the CJI said that both the countries have developed different judicial structures and legal traditions, as India follows a common-law tradition with one integrated judicial hierarchy, while Germany has a civil-law system with separate branches of federal jurisdiction.

“These differences make the exchange particularly useful. They allow us to compare how our institutions deal with the same practical concerns, including appellate workload, consistency of case law, timely disposal, judicial administration and access to justice,” he said.

The CJI said he is approaching the meeting with three themes that speak directly to the challenges the two judiciaries share, such as harnessing technology and AI in the administration of justice, strengthening cross-border mediation and other dispute resolution mechanisms, and deepening institutional cooperation through an MoU.

“I also see considerable value in identifying areas in which our courts, judges, registries and judicial academies can continue this engagement through a structured and reciprocal programme,” he said.

The CJI said he sees value in anchoring any MoU in the themes already discussed: technology and AI in court administration, and cross-border mediation and dispute resolution, alongside the commercial and business law focus and the digitalisation of judicial processes that the Hanseatic court’s concept note already identifies as priorities.

“I propose that each side identify one institutional point of contact so that today’s discussion can be converted into a workable programme, with the MoU or another suitable arrangement to follow once the appropriate authorities on both sides have considered its scope, frequency, participants, confidentiality requirements and working language,” he said.

Giving an overview of the Indian judiciary, the CJI said that unlike Germany, India has no separate constitutional court.

“The Supreme Court is simultaneously the final appellate court in civil and criminal matters and the country’s highest constitutional court, with original jurisdiction under Article 32 to enforce fundamental rights,” he said.

The CJI also said that India’s approach has been to make courts not merely more technological, but more accessible, transparent and responsive for every stakeholder in the justice delivery system.

On the shared institutional challenge, CJI Kant said Germany’s electronic case files, the e-Justice council, the Bund-Laender Commission and the proposed Federal Justice Cloud reflect a similar commitment to a secure digital foundation for justice delivery.

“Both our judiciaries agree that judicial decisions must remain with judges and legally authorised judicial officers, whatever the degree of digital transformation,” he said.

Promoting mediation as another mode of dispute resolution has always been at the top of the priority list of the Chief Justice of India, right from day one, CJI Kant said.

The CJI is on a four-day visit to Germany and the UK during which he will address several programmes.

New Delhi, Aug 26: Food regulator FSSAI on Wednesday said it has issued notices to five-star hotels JW Marriott and Andaz at Aerocity here for serious violations of laws related to hygiene, including presence of cockroaches near freezers.

In a social media post, the regulator informed that it has issued a notice to JW Marriott hotel, which is a unit of Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd. The notice has been issued “over serious food safety violations and non-compliance with FSSAI requirements.”

In another post, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed that it has issued notice to Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd (Andaz, Aerocity, Delhi) following inspections that “uncovered serious food safety violations”.

The regulator has collected samples from both the hotels and further action would be taken based on lab reports. During the inspection, FSSAI officials found serious deficiencies related to hygiene and sanitation.

In the case of JW Marriott, the officials observed inadequate pest control, presence of cockroaches and fruit flies, and poor maintenance of food premises.

In the case of Andaz hotel, the FSSAI inspection revealed active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in the grinding room, spider webs, and the discovery of a ‘gutka’ packet inside the bottling plant area.

Comments from both the hotels could not be immediately obtained.

During the inspection at JW Marriott, FSSAI officials found “serious hygiene and sanitation deficiencies, including unclean utensils and food-contact surfaces, visible particulate matter in drinking water, inadequate pest control, cockroaches and fruit flies, and poor maintenance of food premises.”

The regulator found spoiled/fungal-affected food in the hotel. It also observed improper food storage and cross-contamination risks.

“These included fungal growth on apples, rotten tomatoes, uncovered food, damaged storage containers, inadequate vegetarian/non-vegetarian segregation, improperly stored cut vegetables and food products not maintained as per prescribed storage conditions,” FSSAI said.

Moreover, FSSAI pointed out that various kitchens and food preparation areas, including the Chinese, Indian, Italian and bakery kitchens, showed deficiencies such as pest infestation, non-operational exhaust systems, poor sanitation, inadequate allergen segregation, defective storage containers, improper food identification and inappropriate storage of food products.

Deficiencies were also observed in the water bottling area, dry store, coffee shop and vegetable preparation area, including rusting of the drinking-water storage tank, deficiencies in imported-food labelling, poor sanitation and fruit-fly infestation.

“The overall inspection revealed deficiencies relating to licensing/KOB compliance, labelling, food storage, temperature control, sanitation, pest control, personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, allergen management, traceability, maintenance and potable-water,” the regulator said.

Elaborating on the violation, the regulator said that certain food products /materials, including paneer, khoya, chana masala and chilli, were found without the requisite licence/appropriate endorsement available for verification.

That apart, the hotel company was found carrying out retail and re-labeller activities without the requisite endorsement in its FSSAI licence, including retailing food products under the JW Marriott brand name.

“Labelling deficiencies were observed in pre-packaged food products, including misprinted FSSAI licence numbers and non-declaration of the complete manufacturer’s address,” the regulator said.

The FSSAI licence was also not displayed at a prominent place on the premise.

During inspection at Andaz hotel, FSSAI said “several serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies were observed, including improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pest activity, poor sanitation, inadequate food handler hygiene and improper food storage practices.”

The officials found expired food products, including about 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base and bread packets.

Other deficiencies included inadequate temperature monitoring, improper allergen segregation, poor waste management, structural and maintenance issues, and inadequate supplier verification and receiving practices.

The FSSAI’s inspection team collected regulatory and surveillance samples including cow ghee, veg mayonnaise, creamy coconut milk powder, honey twigs, yellow masoor dal, tomato sauce, orange marmalade and coconut cookies for analysis.

Elaborating further, FSSAI said that inspection revealed active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in the grinding room, spider webs, and the discovery of a ‘gutka’ packet inside the bottling plant area.

The FSSAI officials also observed duplicate date-marking applied over expired bread packaging, alongside severe unpleasant odours and chillers situated directly between two bathrooms with exhaust venting into the chiller section.

The regulator has asked the hotel company to take immediate corrective actions with respect to the non-compliances observed and submit a compliance report at the earliest along with supporting evidence.

In the past few months, FSSAI has cracked down against food business operators as well as e-commerce platforms for misleading claims, labelling and advertisements.

New Delhi, Aug 26: The Embassy of India in Kathmandu is closely coordinating with government of Nepal for the early rescue and relief of Indian nationals affected by flash floods in the Himalayan nation on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The embassy earlier in the day issued emergency phone numbers for those seeking assistance and information related to Indian nationals affected by the calamity.

“Embassy of India in Nepal is closely coordinating with Government of Nepal for the early rescue and relief of Indian nationals affected by today’s flash floods in Nepal,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

At least 46 people have died and nearly 500 others, including 105 Indians, are missing after a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal districts on Wednesday.

So far, 46 bodies have been recovered from the flash flood hit areas, security officials said.

According to an earlier statement by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 384 travellers, 291 foreigners and 93 Nepalese nationals, have gone missing due to the Rasuwa floods.

These travellers include 105 Indian tourists, 37 NRIs and remaining tourists from USA, Malaysia, UK, South Africa, Australia and Netherlands.

The Embassy of India in Nepal in a separate post said, it has “remained engaged with the relevant authorities of Government of Nepal for early rescue and relief for Indian nationals affected by the flash floods that took place in Nepal today. Rescue and relief efforts continue to be strengthened in coordination with the Government of Nepal. @MEAIndia”.

Srinagar, Aug 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to his Nepali counterpart Balendra Shah and conveyed his condolences on the loss of lives in flashfloods.

Taking to micro-blogging site X, PM Modi said: “Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time. 

India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts”.

Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.

India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2026

At least 105 Indians are among the nearly 400 people missing after the devastating flash floods hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district bordering Tibet on Wednesday.

A sudden, massive flood swept through two central Nepal districts bordering Tibet killing dozens of people, causing extensive damage at settlements along the river and damaging at least a dozen hydropower projects.