CJI Surya Kant Defends Judicial Complaint Mechanism Amid Trust Crisis
· India · India Today, Indian Express
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant defended the existing mechanism for handling complaints against judges as 'timely and robust' during the Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi. He acknowledged the need for reform but cautioned against publicising all complaints, arguing some issues may not be suitable for public scrutiny. Kant’s remarks followed concerns raised by Senior Advocates Mahesh Jethmalani and Harish Salve over declining public trust in the judiciary, highlighted by an India Today-CVoter survey showing 48% of respondents lack confidence in the judiciary. Jethmalani criticised the lack of transparency in handling complaints, citing the unresolved Justice Yashwant Varma cash controversy, while Salve questioned why no FIR was filed despite Varma’s resignation. Both advocates called for a public database of complaints against judges to restore accountability and trust.
Why it matters
The debate directly impacts public trust in India’s judiciary, with implications for legal proceedings and the Bar’s credibility. Judges’ accountability mechanisms will face renewed scrutiny, potentially leading to reforms in complaint handling or transparency measures. Legal professionals and citizens may push for greater transparency, while the judiciary must balance procedural fairness with public expectations of accountability.
Read the original report — India Today
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