Lower judiciary accused of corruption, says Chief Justice of Madras High Court
Chief Justice of Madras High Court M.Y. Eqbal, on Thursday, warned judicial officers of severe action in the face of corruption charges.
Disclosing that there were 500 petitions about corruption in the lower judiciary, he said there would be no bar on adopting “trapping” methods if judicial officers failed to clean up their act.
Speaking after administering the oath of office to 165 newly appointed civil judges, the Chief Justice said, “At present, there are about 500 petitions under the scrutiny of the High Court, as against 900 judicial officers working now. In all complaints, we are not taking drastic action of suspension or removal from service, but we will be keeping a watch on all the petitions received. If we receive petitions continuously, we will be compelled to take the drastic action of suspending the judicial officer, whether they are at the higher level in the cadre of district judge or lower level in the cadre of civil judge, junior division.”
He said judiciary was the last resort of the common man and advised new judicial officers to live up to the expectations of the people. “If anybody raises even a little finger against a judicial officer, it is better to quit rather than continue as a judicial officer,” he said.
Explaining that a vigilance unit was working under the direct control of the Chief Justice to look into complaints against judicial officers, Justice Eqbal said, “In serious matters like corruption allegations, the High Court will not compromise.”
Referring to the recent suspension of a 59-year-old district judge in Ramanatha- puram following allegations of corruption, the Chief Justice, once again, advised the new recruits to rise above any sort of corruption or favouritism. “We have received complaints against some judicial officers of the last batch too. We are carefully scrutinizing them,” he said.
The new judicial officers will undergo training for two weeks on general judicial ethics and other essentials of court management and administration at the State Judicial Academy.
Keywords: Madras High Court, M.Y. Eqbal, corruption and judiciary
It is shame on the Indian Judiciary which is vested with the power to
punish for contempt of itself, accommodates and tolerates the
inefficient judicial officer who are indifferent towards injustice
done to the common man and thereby commit contempt of their own Courts
of law.
The dishonest police, disloyal politicians and corrupt judicial
officers in INDIA are the most terrific and dangerous persons than the
frustrated people who take retaliatory measures to secure justice out
of disappointment in the Justice Delivery System.
Dishonest Police officers ordinarily do not register a criminal
complaint against the influential offenders either for unlawful
consideration or due to political interference. However, even if they
happened to register a criminal case against them out of compulsion,
they would see to it that the offenders would go scot-free either on
technical grounds or on ground of benefit of doubt. Therefore, the
victims have to rely upon only the mercy of the Almighty God.
A code of conduct for judges should be in the public domain - on the websites of courts. A code of conduct for judicial employees is also a must,and it should be in the public domain. The courts' proceedings should be telecast live,as is done in countries like USA and Canada. What about corruption in high courts and the Supreme Court? It is strange that the legal system revolves around litigants,but there is not even a single law for litigants. There are laws for judges and lawyers. Complaints against judges should be in the public domain - on the websites of courts. Subjects like judicial corruption,and judicial accountability should be included in the curriculam of legal courses. It is next to impossible to remove a corrupt high court judge or a supreme court judge. We badly need judicial reforms.
Good advice to judiciary officials; hope it is implemented in full sincerity; we know many rich and powerful taunt the ordinary folks that they know how to get judgement in their favour - thru' hefty bribes to concerned and NO purpose would be served by going court; My friend in senior home was also threatened similarly for raising some issues on collection of hefty amount for maintenance ! Poor chap had to comply as no alternative available ! Pity; another case of poor service by Nursing agency also went to consumer court but judge took shelter under some fake receipt to dismiss the case! Came to know later he had been "hooked" -but how to prove !! It is necessary our children grow up with sound basic values, and not fall prey to temptaition anytime in life! God alone can help !!
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