Katju to write tell-all book about Indian judiciary

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju said on Wednesday that he is writing a tell-all book about the Indian judiciary which will offer solutions to the problems of corruption, pendency and delayed justice plaguing the country’s legal system.

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju said on Wednesday that he is writing a tell-all book about the Indian judiciary which will offer solutions to the problems of corruption, pendency and delayed justice plaguing the country’s legal system.

“The problem is that the Indian judiciary has to some extent become an empty shell,” he said.

Several former bureaucrats, ministers and people holding high offices have published their memoirs in the past six months that have created huge controversies. Politician Natwar Singh, journalist Sanjaya Baru, and ex-civil servants Vinod Rai, and PC Parakh have narrated many unflattering details of the previous UPA regime’s functioning.

If and when Justice Katju’s book comes through, it is likely to be the first such controversial account of the judiciary by one of its own.

“Every society needs a judiciary for peaceful resolution of disputes. For this you need honest judges; cases have to be decided quickly and on the basis of settled legal principles and not on the sweet will of the judges, otherwise people will try to resolve disputes through bombs and lathis,” he said.

Justice Katju, who has been in the news for vociferously speaking out against alleged judicial corruption, has also started an online poll asking citizens if they still believe in the country's justice system.

“I am writing a book on the Indian judiciary. I request u all to answer: Have Indians lost faith in our judiciary? Just reply yes or no,” he tweeted.

“On last count, a massive 85% said ‘yes’,” Justice Katju told HT.