Judges and Chief Justices, being human, are easily offered temptations by the government, which is the country’s single biggest & wealthiest litigant. The government offers senior judges and chief justices nearing retirement age prestigious and lucrative posts. Most recently, retired CJI P Sathasivan was appointed Governor of Kerala. He had been openly hinting that he wanted a post-retirement job from the government. See bit.ly/1iXO3oy And earlier, retired Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan was made Chief of the Human Rights Commission, although he was badly tainted with charges of corruption. See bit.ly/1nAdqfE Senior judges hear PILs against government and also cases filed by the government, although after retirement, they look to the government to give them lucrative & prestigious jobs. Not surprisingly, they openly favour government, politicians and bureaucrats, and frown at activist citizens who file PILs. Furthermore, such senior judges and chief justices, in their capacity as members of the collegium, elevate the government’s favourite judges to the Supreme Court, or appoint them as Chief justices of High Court. Is this not institutionalized corruption in the judiciary? Judicial independence can exist in only ideal conditions. Conditions in India are far from ideal, and therefore judiciary is not at all independent of the government. While it rattles its sabre symbolically from time to time, judiciary is basically subservient to the government.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 07:05:05 +0000
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