- Ask any Indian citizen who has invested in the everyday churning of the country’s political, social, and other critical existential aspects how they feel about the justice delivery system. At the best of times, most of the Indians will reveal their cynical beliefs about the happenings in and around them. Not only that, but many will also subscribe to the view that only the higher judiciary will come to their rescue as a last resort for relief, justice, and unbiased treatment. The countrymen are quite aware of the unholy nexus existing between the political leaders-bureaucrats-law enforcement agencies where the high and mighty often tend to have their way of wriggling out of any situation. It’s a common understanding that the commoners are always at the receiving end.
PC: Deccan Herald
- Imagine a scenario where some of the hallowed members (s) of the higher judiciary find themselves entangled in an unacceptable situation/scenario, leaving commoners completely distraught with the bitter emergence of gross indiscretion. The nation was recently rocked by the revelation of a Delhi High Court Judge found with a huge cache of hoarded cash at his residence when the police reached to investigate a fire incident during Holi. It goes without saying that the case of an HC judge – who is under probe now – will carry big implications. To its credit, the SC moved swiftly in connection with the revelations. Notably, the judge in question is second in seniority among Delhi HC’s judges, and SC has proposed his repatriation to Allahabad HC.
PC: Scroll.in
- Further, in a press note issued last week, it delinked the transfer from the case by stating that the proposal to transfer is separate from the in-house inquiry procedure. As for inquiries, the first by Delhi HC’s chief justice is over, and its report has reached the Chief Justice of India, who will take an appropriate call. If the report supports the allegations, the judge may be asked to resign or face an inquiry panel. Whatever the emerging situation, the importance of this case cannot be overstated because, at a time when people’s faith in other institutions of governance has eroded, the higher judiciary needs to look squeaky clean. Over the decades, skeletons have occasionally tumbled out of the judicial closet. This is most worrying for many of us. Let’s look at some.
PC: Deccan Herald
- Remember how the Calcutta HC judge quit midway through the debate on the removal motion in Parliament? The charge was misappropriation of funds. Another Delhi HC judge quit after he was accused of accepting bribes, and more. The Sikkim HC Chief Justice also resigned following allegations of corruption. Then there was the cash-at-door case against a Punjab & Haryana HC judge. The case blew up after a sum of 15L was wrongly delivered to the house of her namesake in 2008. Now, as the SC probes the cash at the Delhi HC judge’s residence, it should bear in mind the whole country would be looking at the eventual outcome. What is at stake is the huge reputation of the higher judiciary to establish a preeminent existence as an impeccably unimpeachable entity.
