M A I L B A G

Judges should regulate their conduct

Apropos of Justice S.S. Sodhi’s article “An unbecoming outburst: It can shake people’s confidence in the judiciary” (Feb 16) and the editorial “B.K. Roy for Guwahati” (Feb 17), it is time for serious introspection. We must be bold enough to make a critical appreciation of the judges’ conduct so that the judiciary’s image is not affected.

Unfortunately, the Bar is more commercialised than ever before. Practising in the Bar is no longer considered a learned profession today, but as a lucrative business. The due processes of law have become less due.

The only way to rid the judiciary of the ills, without compromising people’s faith in it, is by a steady application of self-regulatory procedures and self-discipline by the judges. Clearly, they have to regulate their conduct. They are indispensable servants of society without whom democracy cannot survive.

P.L. SETHI, Patiala

II

Justice Sodhi rightly says that a standard of conduct and a sense of responsibility are expected of a Chief Justice. This surely doesn’t warrant a Chief Justice running down his brother Judges in the media, as Justice B.K. Roy had done. Such an outburst is bound to shake people’s confidence in the judiciary.

S.C. CHABBA, Ropar

III

The judiciary is a strong pillar of the democracy. The judges are expected to be above suspicion like Ceaser’s wife. I am aware of a case (pertaining to education) in which 12 judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court declined to hear a petition owing to the petitioners’ clout. Finally, much to be chagrin of the teachers, the case was decided after 15 years in favour of the petitioners in contravention of the Act and the university rules.

To quote Bacon from his pragmatic and cryptic “Essay of Judicature”, “Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more revered than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all, integrity is their proper virtue”.

Prof UMESH KUMAR, Faridabad

IV

In the good old days, the litigants used to take their petitions from judge to judge, to see who would give them a favourable judgement. Justice S.S. Sodhi had stopped this practice and set in motion a procedure to be followed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Unfortunately, as lawyers and judges do not help the litigants, justice has become the casualty today.

Justice Sodhi belongs to the old school of strict uprightness where he would not even hear the cases of people known to him socially. Now some lawyers auction the cases. It is a hard fact and we are the victims.

(Mrs) R.S. GAREWAL, Ludhiana

V

Justice Sodhi’s views are purely pro-system as he belonged to the same system. An outsider may not agree with him fully. Without Justice Roy’s saying, the things he has said are well known to us.

As for people’s faith in the judiciary, it is already shaken. People see how criminals, politicians, business tycoons and bureaucrats are involved in big scams but are seldom convicted. It is always a rebel who ushers in reforms. It requires courage and Justice Roy has demonstrated the same by exposing the ills in the system.

Lt-Col BHAGWANT SINGH (retd), Mohali

VI

In a parliamentary democracy, every institution of the government is directly or indirectly responsible and answerable to the people. Their functioning must be transparent. Secrecy breeds unscrupulousness which, in turn, gives rise to nepotism and corruption.

Leaving aside Justice Roy’s ego, it would be right at times to divulge the truth about the spirit and circumstances under which decisions were taken in the judiciary. We should not try to hide them. Instead we should explore ways to resolve the problems amicably.

BALDEV SINGH KANG, Bassi Pathanan (Fatehgarh Sahib)

VII

Justice Roy was the only one who took on corruption in the judiciary at every level — in the High Court or lower courts. His transfer is unfortunate. The Supreme Court collegium has wronged Justice Roy and absolved the High Court judges of their malpractices. The poor and helpless litigants of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have little hope as they don’t have money to fight their cases in the courts.

Brig. B.S. DHILLON (retd), Chandigarh

Airport toilets dirty

During a visit to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport recently, I was disappointed to see the dirty toilets. Airports are supposed to match international standards but what I saw there was shocking.

The authorities concerned should provide separate toilets to the occupants of the reserved lounges for they are made to pay for sitting. I hope necessary course corrections are applied soon in the national interest.

KULDEEP SINGH, Una (HP)

LIC’s ways

On November 22, 2004, two of my mother’s LIC policies were sent to its Mehrauli branch in New Delhi to have their nominations changed. In the past month, two e-mail messages have been sent to several leading functionaries of the organisation but have brought no response.

Several months ago, when another LIC branch gave us trouble and we made a noise, a person with an elevated designation apologised profusely and promised us fine service in the future. They are keeping their word by taking even longer than they did before.

MUKUL DUBE, New Delhi