MIL/Hindu/Agencies, Apr 20, 2008. Author: IR Summary
New Delhi, India: April 20, 2008 – IR Summary – While inaugurating the conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices, Prime Minister Manmohan. Singh said on Saturday on corruption on judiciary, "Apart from pendency and delayed justice, corruption is another challenge we face both in government and the judiciary."
See the wisdom how it blossoms and showers from top countrymen. Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan on Saturday refused to join issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on corruption in judiciary.
The Chief Justice of India very wisely elucidated that the office of CJI is not covered under the Right to Information Act.
In the press conference held in the evening, the Chief Justice very honorably and wisely denied that Dr. Singh had referred to corruption in judiciary. He clarified what the Prime Minister had meant, he wants special courts to be created to deal with corruption cases. He refuted the charge of corruption in the judiciary and said "immediate action is being taken even if one or two cases come before us."
He said there were about 6,100 cases investigated by the CBI, most of them related to corruption and what was suggested was more CBI or special courts to deal with such cases.
"Not under RTI"
Asked whether the CJI would come within the ambit of the RTI, he said: "The CJI is not a public servant in the strict sense. He is a constitutional functionary and constitutional authorities are not covered under the RTI."
Declaration of assets
To a question whether Supreme Court judges declared their assets, Mr. Justice Balakrishnan said: "At the time of their appointment, every Supreme Court judge has to declare his assets. Thereafter if any property is purchased, he has to give the information to me in a sealed cover. This must be the case with High Court judges [who would furnish the information to the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned]."
On the introduction of a law in Parliament on judicial accountability, the CJI said it was well within the domain of Parliament to enact a law.
On the need for a change in the system of appointment of judges by the National Judicial Commission, he said: "We can’t say anything about this. We are bound by the Supreme Court judgment [in judges appointment]." More
