‘Bizarre’ Prayer: Supreme Court Dismisses a Man’s Petition to Deactivate ‘Machine’ Controlling His Brain

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) of India dismissed a petition filed by a man alleging that his brain was being controlled by a person through a machine, terming it as ‘bizarre’. The two-judge bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah observed, “This is the bizarre prayer(s) which has been made by the petitioner whose specific allegation is that there is some machine which is being used and operated at the hands of some persons, 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.” In this case, the petitioner made the following prayers:

• “Issue direction to the respondent no.1 to deactivate the machine connection which knows the ideas in the brain forthwith pending disposal of present special leave petition and
• Pass any other or further order(s), which may be deemed to be just, fit, and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case in favor of the Petitioners.”

Earlier on September 27, 2024, the top court passed an order directing the petitioner to appear before the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC). The order further reads, “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.”

Following the aforesaid order, the SCLSC tried to interact with the petitioner who was not available initially for a long time. After interacting with the Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority and subsequently taking the assistance of a lawyer who could speak and understand the Telugu language with which the petitioner was conversant, a report was filed including some detail as to what the petitioner wanted. 

As per the report filed by the SCLSC, it has been determined, “...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 a 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.” After hearing the matter, the SC bench dismissed the petition terming it ‘bizarre’.