Corruption in the judiciary is a subject that no one in India talks about openly, not out of blinding respect for the integrity of the men in black robes but out of fear of being hauled up for contempt. But like a jack in the box, the issue jumps into the open every now and then. It did so last weekend when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was clearly quoted as saying that “apart from pendency and delayed justice, corruption is another challenge we face both in government and the judiciary.”
The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan denied that the PM had alleged corruption. “The prime minister has not said anything about corruption in judiciary…. He has talked about corruption cases investigated by the CBI… CBI cases are not against the judiciary.” Although a resolution of SC judges makes it mandatory for all judges of the higher judiciary to regularly declare their assets at the time of elevation, Justice Balakrishnan said judges submit in sealed covers details of their assets.
Questions: What is your perception of the judiciary? On a scale of one to ten (one being most corrupt, ten being most clean), where would you place the judiciary? Is the judiciary “totally corruption-free”, as law minister H.R. Bharadwaj claims: yes or no? Is it as corrupt as the legisature and executive, or more/less corrupt than the legislature and executive? Can justice be bought from your own experience and from what you read, see and hear? Are politicians intentionally trying to pull down the judiciary in the eyes of the people? Should judges declare their assets and liabilities, or will it become another tamasha?
(All comments will be moderated. Pinpoint responses only. Do not name specific courts, judges or cases in your responses.)
Free & Fair: 7
All Judges MUST declare assets. They must be available for scrutiny under RTI
Justice can be bought, perhaps its gets diffcult ( and expensiver) at the level goes up from District Court upwards to Supreme Court.
YES. Politicans are trying to hit back at Judiciary. But its well worth the shot and (for once) politicians will have backing of people on this issue.
Lastly, Bharadwaj’s claim about corruption-free judiciary is rubbish.
1) Less corrupt than legislature, executive and the so-called fourth pillar media put together.
2) On a scale of one to ten, 7. There are black sheep in every profession, the judiciary is no exception. It can never be corruption-free.
3) On the large big cases, it is probably difficult to buy justice. But on the smaller cases, in the smaller cities, it is probably so.
4) Assets and liabilities must be revealed, but we need a far better mechanism to scrutinise their veracity than what we have.
The lower one goes, the higher the level of corruption.
That said, at the higher levels, corruption is difficult to detect because
a. It is done “smartly”.
b. There is no transparency
c. The power of contempt is wielded ruthlessly.
It is not just a question of “black sheep”. The way the judiciary functions (and the poor quality of our judges) means that the corruption is very hard to detect, and impossible to punish.
judicial layout anyone? there is a man working on this with missionary zeal.
check him out, especially his discussions with AT Ramaswamy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/indianscandal
we are all bacchas.
Sathyavantha antha hesarittukonda maathrake sullu helalla antha enu guaranty? Let us dispense with our naivete and sentimentality. How did the judiciary behave when three years ago some high court judges allegedly displayed behavior unbecoming of their positions at a resort in Mysore? Why make judges exempt from scrutiny?
Self-righteousness is no different from hypocrisy.
I am a little disappointed with the CJI. The man is nothing but a backward retard. The frightening thing is we have to endure this BR for another 10 years or so give or a take a few years. Any judge who says his office does not come under RTI is a retard IMHO.
One cannot say that this section is corruption free. However, it is certainly less than other fields. Another thing is that there is no open house to pin point such affairs or to discuss on the issue under the stick of ‘contempt of court’ weilding always
Generally speaking, some people in the judiciary like some in every other profession would be squeaky clean –meaning 10 on the scale. There would be any number ranking 1 on the same scale –meaning very corrupt. As judiciary is the ‘Holy Cow’ of this society, people may not speak out freely. While the law minister has valiantly/foolishly tried to give a clean chit to the judiciary, I would say it is for the members of the judiciary to prove their uncorruptibleness. Humble assets are just one measure of not having given to “bad ways” but there could be instances of “being influenced” when passing verdicts too. Corruption in judiciary also extends to turning a blind eye.
Guilty till proven innocent, shall we say??
Hosabelaku–
This is truly throwing new light on the topic. You are right. Corruption need not be material alone.
Justices themselves politic for a place on the bench. Our own late L. R. Hegde, for example.
A bunch of clerical minded legalists carrying out duties not assigned to the bureaucracy or highly moral and ethical citizens whose concern is with ensuring that justice is served in a humane way and a way that enhances the quality of life for us all?
How many of us can say our lives are safe or better because of the support offered by the legal system?
How many of of our legal pandiths have written opionons or books that set a model for the rest in the profession?
Make way for Alok.
The Brits didn’t trust us natives with a jury system as they did back in the UK. Let’s introduce it. It is far more difficult to bribe and/or intimidate 12 people instead of 1 or 2. And please no one tell me that “illiterate”, “uneducated” Indians can’t be trusted to consider evidence and make a decision.
Lower court is totally in the grip and I am in the so much bad position is that I am not going to even in police to lodge complainants as I fear that court would harass me and accused will not be prosecuted. I have total loss of faith in judiciary.