Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia advocates clean man in black robe

Conscious of the fact that there are certain judges whose integrity is under cloud, Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia asked the leaders of political parties not to protect the tainted administrators of justice.

Echoing people’s sentiments that justice gets derailed due to the tardy dispensation system, he stressed the need for ‘clean man in black robes’.

“Internal interference from a high-ranking judge which, if resisted, could lead the lower ranking judge being transferred or being denied promotion needs to be deprecated. Political protection should not be given to corrupt judges,” Kapadia said at the fifth MC Setalvad Memorial Lecture.

“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.

The CJI’s remarks assume significance as the issue of corruption allegedly involving sitting judges PD Dinakaran and Soumitra Sen, who are facing impeachment proceedings in Parliament.

“Judges should maintain self-restraint and avoid being in touch with lawyers, political parties, their leaders or ministers and high-ranking judges should not interfere in the administrative work of court lower to it,” he said.

Kapadia said he avoids socialising and preferred not take membership of any golf clubs as that would have left him mingling with advocates, politicians, etc giving people a negative impression.