We will curb corruption in judiciary with an iron fist: CJI

Press Trust Of IndiaNew Delhi, November 26: Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan on Monday vowed to curb corruption in the judiciary with an “iron fist” and sought the help of legal fraternity by becoming “whistle-blowers” to expose acts of misdeeds.Justice Balakrishnan also squarely blamed the Government for the huge pendency of cases in the country and raised a question whether administration of justice was not an essential part of planned development deserving priority attention of state governments and Planning Commission.
The Chief Justice made these remarks in his address to mark the annual Law Day celebrations at the Supreme Court.
Admitting that corruption in the judiciary was highly talked about in recent times, the Chief Justice said that for every corrupt judge, there existed the inevitable corruptors in the form of lawyers, litigants, trustees, receivers, ministerial staff and touts.
“Most are officers of the court and are bound by the same ethical and moral standards as judges. Thus they have an affirmative whistle-blowing function to report incidents of others violating rules of ethics,” Justice Balakrishnan said.
“A single judicial scandal can shake the confidence of the public in the whole judicial system. Corruption deserves to be curbed with an iron fist, whenever, it is detected and ascertained beyond doubt,” he added.
He regretted that though in 2002, the apex court had directed the Government to increase by five-fold the judges' strength in the Supreme Court and High Courts for rendering quick justice to the common man, the necessary action had not been forthcoming.