India can do with a few more stings: SC judge

A Supreme Court judge defends the use of sting operations by journalists to expose corruption in the society. A report by Satya Prakash.

A Supreme Court judge on Friday defended the use of sting operations by journalists to expose corruption in the society.

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During the hearing of a case a relating to a sting operation against former Union Minister and BJP leader Dilip Singh Judeo, Justice Markandey Katju said: “I totally agree with sting operations. There should be more sting operations. Corrupt elements can be brought to light by these sort of operations.”

Katju said those carrying out stings cannot be treated as criminals. “This is only to expose corruption in society. How can they be equated with criminals?” he asked.

Katju’s remarks contrast the approach of another bench headed by Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan, which has been insisting on an “unconditional apology” from a TV channel reporter who exposed corruption in subordinate courts in Gujarat through a sting operation.

The reporter had obtained bailable warrants from an Ahmedabad court against four prominent persons including then President APJ Abdul Kalam and then Chief Justice of India in 2004.

However, Justice Altamas Kabir, who headed the Bench dealing with the Judeo case, said there was a flip side to the sting operations that was evident in the case of Delhi schoolteacher Uma Khurana.

(With PTI inputs)