Bhubaneswar: Ethics is very important in the judicial system. Though the law and legal provisions are enacted in the assembly and the Parliament, the responsibility of the judiciary to mend all the necessary lacunas as well as indiscipline factors exist in its implementation. The chief justice of India Bhusan R Agarwal’s statement should be accepted with respect.
In the last June 4, the chief justice Mr Agarwal states in a conference on ‘ the Judicial Freedom of the Courts’ held at the apex court of the United Kingdom, any judge after taking retirement should not join in any other position, not even participate in electoral politics. Ethically this statement should be appreciated. The CJI had also stated that none of his colleagues would be taking up any other job or
position post their retirement. He has promised this publicly. Other judges might or might not follow this. But such ethics must be applauded.
As a first Odia CJI, Ranganath Mishra had joined Congress and elected to the legislative assembly. Though he did not get any adulation for it. He had got his salary and other facilities after his retirement. He had gained popularity as the CJI not only in Odisha but all over the country. His contribution in the assembly was not so impressive. After justice Mishra, another retired supreme court judge Ranjan Gogoi
was also elected to the assembly. Many such chief justice of the supreme court have taken up positions like vice president, governor and other important posts that cover the media attention. Later those judges were criticized for their decisions. So to say, Mahatma Gandhi might have taken the decision to become the prime minister or president of the country after India got independence. But he did not aspired for that rather created a special place in the heart of the people or across the world. But the
people on India could not learn anything from this principles and ethics. Most judges have taken the advantage of their achievements and positions for gaining self interest. A judge from Kolkata High court, Soumitra Sen was suspended from the assembly due to the Rajya Sabha impeachment for the first time.
In 2014, prime minister Narendra Modi in the first official meeting of his cabinet had formed a special investigating team under the supervision of the retired supreme court judge M. B. Shah for exposing the black money inside and outside the country. Retired supreme court judge Arijit Pasayat was the vice president of this team. But the result of this investigation is still under wraps how much black money could be recovered.
-OdishaAge
