Don't protect corrupt judges: chief justice Kapadia

With concern being voiced in the media and by other opinion makers over the image of the judiciary taking a beating in the wake of corruption charges, chief justice S H Kapadia today called for a "clean man in black robe". He also asked the political class not to give protection to corrupt judges.

"We have to live by examples. We need a clean man in black robe to uphold the independence and integrity of the judiciary," the CJI said.

According to the CJI judges should maintain self restraint and avoid getting close to lawyers, political parties, their leaders or ministers. He added that high ranking judges should not interfere in the administrative work of court lower to it.

"Internal interference from a high ranking judge which, if resisted, could lead the lower ranking Judge being transferred or being denied promotion also needs to be deprecated. Similarly, political protection should not be given to corrupt judges," Kapadia said at the fifth M C Setalvad memorial lecture on 'Canons of judicial ethics' in New Delhi.

"A judge must inevitably choose to be a little aloof and isolated from the community at large. He should not be in contact with lawyers, individuals or political parties, their leaders or ministers unless it be on purely social occasions," he said.

The CJI's remarks are being seen to be particularly significant in the backdrop of  charges of corruption against senior judges P D Dinakaran and Soumitra Sen, who are facing impeachment proceedings in parliament.