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Judges’ graft bill in freezer
The government has put off a new bill that allows citizens to complain against corrupt judges for the first time in 60 years, fearing a backlash from the higher judiciary and facing a lack of political consensus.
The government has put off a new bill that allows citizens to complain against corrupt judges for the first time in 60 years, fearing a backlash from the higher judiciary and facing a lack of political consensus.
The law ministry had three months ago announced its plan to repeal the outdated Judges Inquiry Act, 1968, and replace it with the Judges Standards and Accountability Bill in the winter session of Parliament.
With the session over, this bill is set to become the longest pending legislation after the women’s reservation bill.
Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily had on October 22 said, “After getting the cabinet clearance, we will present it before Parliament during the coming winter session.”
On December 14, asked about the alleged corruption among the higher judiciary, including allegations against Justice P.D. Dinakaran, the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice, Moily told the Rajya Sabha:”No person with shady character can become a judge… That is why I had thought of bringing forward a bill in this session. Maybe I will be able to bring it in the last days of this session”.
Asked about his earlier announcements, Moily told HT, “We are committed to bringing the bill in the next session for which consultations are going on.”
The ministry did not put up the bill before the Union cabinet for approval. Opposition parties said nothing was discussed with them. “The government did not talk about any such bill,” said NDA working convener Sharad Yadav.
A cold response from the higher judiciary also appeared to have dampened the move.
“The idea of doing away with the Judges Inquiry Act is impractical. Some additions should be made to it to allow the higher judiciary and government to take action against corrupt judges apart from impeachment,” said a ministry official.
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