Delhi CM Kejriwal related a conversation he overheard about phones being tapped.
The government denied tapping phones of judges after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed concern at an event in the national capital on Monday.
Kejriwal said, "I have seen two judges say that 'don't talk on phone, it is being tapped'. I said phones of the judges can't be tapped." Kejriwal said he couldn't attest to whether the statements were true. "I don't know if it is true or not, but if this is true, then it's dangerous. Where is the independence of the judiciary then?" he asked.
"If any judge has done something wrong, even then phone tapping shouldn't happen. There are many other ways to gather evidence," he added.
At the same event, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad categorically denied the allegations and said, "I deny with all authority at command the allegations that phones of judges have been tapped."
Kejriwal also brought up vacancies in the judiciary. The Delhi CM said, "I read that SC collegium had many months back given recommendations for judicial appointments, but its still lying with Centre."
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had on Sunday said that the government has the highest regard for the judiciary and was committed to addressing the shortage of judges in High Courts.
In a statement, he said the process of appointment of judges would continue even while the new Memorandum of Protocol for such appointments is under consideration. According to the statistics furnished by him, there were 280 vacancies out of 877 posts in 2008, 276 of 886 posts in 2009, 265 of 895 posts in 2010, 286 of 895 posts in 2011, 273 of 895 posts in 2012, 282 of 895 posts in 2013 and 267 of 906 posts in 2014. In 2015, 78 new posts were created and in 2016, 138 posts were created, Naidu said. Hence, the vacancies were 268 out of 984 posts in 2015 and 286 out of 1044 posts in 2016, he said, adding the total strength increased "substantially" in last two years.
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