Stop being super legislature: CJI
Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia has cautioned the judges against accepting any political patronage, interfering with the lower court’s administrative issues and stop being “super legislature”. He also asked the political class not to protect the corrupt judges. Though asking the judiciary to be prepared for fair criticism of judges and judgments, the Chief Justice also expressed concern over illegitimate and irresponsible criticism meted out to the issues involving judiciary.
Delivering the fifth M.C. Setalvad Memorial Lecture here on Saturday, the Chief Justice said that the judges will have to live by examples. “We need a clean man in black robe to uphold the independence and integrity of the judiciary,” he said, adding that the judges must restrain themselves from being in touch with lawyers, political parties, their leaders or ministers. “A judge must inevitably choose to be a little aloof and isolated from the community at large,” said the CJI.
Also, the Chief Justice warned the high ranking judges from interfering in the administrative matters of the courts lower to them, which may result in a particular judge getting promoted, while the growth of the other would get stalled. “Similarly, political protection should not be given to corrupt judges,” he said.
The CJI, however, maintained that he was an eternal optimist and saw improvement in the integrity and the credibility of the Supreme Court increasing in future.
However, he also asked the judges not to accept any patronage that would end up in them acquiring office, preferential treatment or pre-retirement assignment.
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