(Image source from: Govt to review judges' selection })

Former SC judge Markandey Katju has alleged three former Chief Justices of India (CJI) of continuing, confirming and promoting an allegedly corrupt judge. The allegation has forced the NDA government to think of reviewing the judges' selection procedure. At present judges are selected by the collegium system.

According to reports in News channels, the Modi government held a meeting with former CJIs and eminent lawyers to consult on the need to revamp the collegium system of judges selection.

The government move to revamp the process of judges' selection comes after Katju had written about an additional Judge of the Madras High Court, who was given extension post-retirement due to political pressure. His extension was allowed inspite of the judge in question was allegedly corrupt and thad adverse IB report.

According to Justice Katju, initially the then Chief Justice of India RC Lahoti had ordered an inquiry on the judge. But later due to political pressure from the UPA he agreed to the extension of the corrupt judge's term.

Justice Katju alleges that the judge in question was close to a political party, which was a UPA ally. When reports of removing the judge surfaced the UPA ally threatened then PM Manmohan Singh that they would withdraw support to the Union government. This resulted in the panicky premier making ensure that the judge does not lose his job.

CJI Lahoti has been alleged to extending the term of the corrupt additional judge by one year. But Justice Katju has alleged that Lahoti's successor CJI, YK Sabharwal, appointed him for a fresh term, and CJI, KG Balakrishnan, made the appointment of the judge permanent and transfered him to another state.

So, according to Katju the three former CJIs had been instrumental in continuing, confirming and promoting a judge who had been allegedly to be corrupt.

Former Law Minister HK Bhardwaj, while speaking to a news channel, agreed that the UPA government was indeed pressurised by a key ally. However, Bhardwaj asserted that the government did not agree to its threat and had followed procedures strictly while granting an extension to Justice Ashok Kumar by a year.

After Katju's story created waves, the NDA government has plans to set up a Judicial Appointments Commission, and the present system of judges appointing judges will be scrapped.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)