Cash-for-warrant scam: SC seeks unconditional apology from channel

Express News Service
New Delhi, November 22: Three years after a news channel seeking to expose corruption in the lower judiciary carried out a sting operation, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked for “an unconditional apology” from the channel and the concerned reporter as it found the explanation given by them unconvincing.“We are not satisfied with your affidavit,” remarked a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which further questioned the credentials of the reporter in question. “You have given bribe to lawyers, this is not a bonafide act,” the Court said.
In 2004, the TV channel — Zee News — through their reporter Vijay Shekhar, carried out a sting operation which showed how fake bailable warrants could be procured against any person in consideration of hefty amount paid to the court. The sting operation had shown four such bailable warrants being procured from a local court in Gujarat in the name of the then President A P J Abdul Kalam, the then Chief Justice of India Justice V N Khare, a Supreme Court Judge Justice B P Singh and a senior advocate.
The “expose” sought to bring to light how fake warrants are easily managed by giving bribes. The Court, which refused to grant another date for the matter as senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the channel was not available, went on to say: “You have committed a serious offence. You must tender an unconditional apology.” The Bench, also comprising Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal remarked: “Everyone in the country feels that any case can be filed by anyone.”
The matter will now be taken up after four weeks.
Earlier too, in the previous hearing on July 26, the CJI had strongly observed that the expose caused a disrepute to the image of judiciary. The court had issued notices to the reporter and the channel to be served through CBI. It had sought to know why action should not be taken against the channel and the reporter. “We are strongly of the view that the person should be prosecuted,” the bench had noted.

Cash-for-warrant scam: SC seeks unconditional apology from channel

Express News Service
New Delhi, November 22: Three years after a news channel seeking to expose corruption in the lower judiciary carried out a sting operation, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked for “an unconditional apology” from the channel and the concerned reporter as it found the explanation given by them unconvincing.“We are not satisfied with your affidavit,” remarked a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which further questioned the credentials of the reporter in question. “You have given bribe to lawyers, this is not a bonafide act,” the Court said.
In 2004, the TV channel — Zee News — through their reporter Vijay Shekhar, carried out a sting operation which showed how fake bailable warrants could be procured against any person in consideration of hefty amount paid to the court. The sting operation had shown four such bailable warrants being procured from a local court in Gujarat in the name of the then President A P J Abdul Kalam, the then Chief Justice of India Justice V N Khare, a Supreme Court Judge Justice B P Singh and a senior advocate.
The “expose” sought to bring to light how fake warrants are easily managed by giving bribes. The Court, which refused to grant another date for the matter as senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for the channel was not available, went on to say: “You have committed a serious offence. You must tender an unconditional apology.” The Bench, also comprising Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal remarked: “Everyone in the country feels that any case can be filed by anyone.”
The matter will now be taken up after four weeks.
Earlier too, in the previous hearing on July 26, the CJI had strongly observed that the expose caused a disrepute to the image of judiciary. The court had issued notices to the reporter and the channel to be served through CBI. It had sought to know why action should not be taken against the channel and the reporter. “We are strongly of the view that the person should be prosecuted,” the bench had noted.

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.

Ex-CJI: Judges should not be exempted from declaring their assets

Express News ServiceNew Delhi, November 15: Favouring accountability at all levels of judiciary, former Chief Justice of India Justice J S Verma has said the judges should not be exempted from declaring their assets. Reacting sharply to some High Court judges’ opposition to the move on declaration of assets, Justice Verma said the government should go ahead with the Judges (Inquiry) Bill 2006 which has such a proposal.“Transparency and accountability must attach the functioning of everyone who wields public power. Judges are as much accountable in a democracy as anyone else...judges should be no exception,” the former CJI said in a television interview.
“I am surprised...it should not have happened,” he said on the judges’ opposition, adding that he considered it a wrong move on their part.