M A I L B A G

Need to tackle corruption in the judiciary

The contradictory statements of Chief Justice of India Justice R.C. Lahoti and his predecessor, Justice V. N. Khare, on the powers of the CJI are perplexing. While the former, in an interview to The Tribune (May 28), said that he was satisfied with the existing powers to deal with the errant Judges, the latter said that he was powerless. Surprisingly, Justice Lahoti has claimed that there is no corruption in the judiciary and that the recent acts of indiscipline and gross misuse of judicial powers are mere aberrations.

I suggest the CJI to visit lower courts incognito and see for himself how the judgments are twisted or delayed under monetary influence or politico-bureaucratic pressures or the lawyer-judge nexus. The roots of corruption are nourished by delayed judgments and the petitioners with meagre financial backing get frustrated, allowing the rich and the influential to have their way. It is, therefore, not surprising when we hear from big criminals and scamsters of all hues expressing their full faith in the judiciary (not because they are innocent but because they know that they will get scot-free sooner or later) whereas the poor and the honest have lost faith in the judiciary.

Justice Lahoti’s claim that the increasing number of cases referred to the judiciary proves that the people’s faith in the judiciary is erroneous and misleading. The increase in the number of cases is not because the people have faith in the judiciary but because of the high incidence of crime. The monster of corruption has to be taken by the horn and concrete actions taken to improve the judicial system. The sooner the better.

Brig W.S. CHOUDARY (retd), Panchkula

II

I am surprised to read that Justice Lahoti is satisfied with the powers enjoyed by him now (May 28). His statement came just a day after Union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj said that the Centre is open to giving more powers to the CJI in the light of the growing acts of misconduct of the High Court Judges. Justice Lahoti has, in a way, contradicted the views of his predecessor, Justice Khare, in favour of more powers to the CJI.

No action has been initiated against the Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who had gone on mass casual leave on April 19. Justice Lahoti makes us believe that the judiciary is not affected by the cancer of corruption. He should know, to cite one example, that in the lower courts litigants are overcharged for typing, copying or attestation work.

M.R. DANG, Dharamsala

III

Justice Lahoti’s claim that the judiciary is not corrupt is unconvincing. True, no person would like to criticise his own department. But after the media brought to the notice of the public specific instances of corruption involving the Ahmedabad Magistrate and the Jalandhar Sessions Judge, the new CJI’s statement that there is no corruption in the judiciary is unjustified.

I agree with the view that as very few cases have come to light, one cannot blame the entire judiciary lock, stock and barrel. But there is no denying the fact that most corruption cases are neither detected nor reported. In other departments too, the percentage of corrupt persons is very small.

Even now people have respect and faith in the judiciary as compared to the other departments. Consequently, to maintain the clean image and reputation of the judiciary, particularly at the lower level, the black sheep should be weeded out of the judiciary at all levels, if necessary, by empowering the CJI and the Supreme Court Collegium.

Lt-Col B.S. GHUMAN (retd), Jalandhar Cantonment

IV

The new CJI’s assertion that the judiciary is not corrupt and that he does not need more powers to discipline the errant judges has dashed all hopes for a clean and responsible judiciary. Has the age-old adage that “all great men think alike” lost its validity?

VISHWA MITRA, Karnal

Punjabis in Oxford hail PM Dr Manmohan Singh’s appointment as India’s Prime Minister was celebrated by the members of the Punjabi Hindu and Sikh communities at a weekly gathering of the Oxford Shri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara on May 23. Highlighting the special significance of this appointment for the Oxford-based Indians, Pritam Singh, a development economist teaching at Oxford Brookes University, said that Dr Manmohan Singh was a D. Phil student at Nuffield College, Oxford. He explained Dr Singh’s contributions to economic reforms in India. He interpreted his appointment as symbolising the strength of pluralism in India. Gurdip Saini, President of Oxford Shri Guru Singh Sabha, said that Dr Singh’s appointment will make world more aware of the Sikh community and its traditions. Shinderpal Singh Gill, Treasurer of the Oxford Shri Guru Singh Sabha said that their happiness on Dr Singh’s appointment has been marred by Mr Jagdish Tytler’s appointment as a minister. Mr Ryan Singh, who studies law at Oxford University, felt that the Congress should not have given tickets to Mr Tytler and Mr Sajjan Kumar to contest the elections. Mr Bachan Singh, a solicitor, hoped that Mrs Sonia Gandhi will keep tainted politicians at bay. VOX POPULI, Oxford (UK)

Clogged up drains

The Municipal Corporation of Shimla is doing a good job by keeping the environs clean. But it is shameful that the drains are not cleaned up. At times, the sewerage lines get blocked and the entire area gets polluted, causing a serious health hazard. The corporation authorities should take note of this problem and get the drains cleaned up regularly. Every effort should be made to check the outbreak of epidemic.

AMIT GUPTA, Shimla