Disclosing that there are 500 petitions complaining about corruption in the lower judiciary now under the High Court’s scrutiny, Chief Justice of Madras High Court M.Y.Eqbal on Thursday warned of severe action if further complaints were received against them. He also made it clear that there was no bar on adopting ‘trapping’ methods too.
The Chief Justice said: “At present there are about 500 petitions under the scrutiny of the High Court as against 900 judicial officers working now. In all complaints, we are not taking drastic action of suspension or removal from service, but we will be keeping a watch on all the petitions received. If we receive petitions continuously, we will be compelled to take the drastic action of suspending the judicial officer, whether they are at the higher level in the cadre of District Judge or lower level in the cadre of Civil Judge, junior division.”
The Chief Justice was speaking after administering the oath of office to 165 newly appointed civil judges and inaugurating an induction programme for them.
Stating that judiciary was the last resort of an affected common man, he advised the new judicial officers to keep up the respect and reverence they commanded from the people. “If anybody raises a little finger against any judicial officer making allegation of corruption or favouritism, it is better to quit instead of continuing as a judicial officer.”
Observing that nowadays, public opinion was “not appreciative”, Mr. Justice Eqbal said judicial officers were also being blamed along with any other government servants.
Explaining that a Vigilance wing was working directly under the Chief Justice’s control to look into complaints against judicial officers, Mr.Eqbal said, “In serious matter like corruption allegations, the High Court will not compromise.”
“We are getting complaints even against some judicial officers of the last batch, and we are carefully scrutinizing them.” Though there was no bar on the High Court vigilance using trapping as a method, it was not adopting it, keeping in mind the impression the public had about the judiciary as a whole, he said.
Referring to the recent suspension of a District Judge at the age of 59 in Ramanathapuram on allegations of corruption, the Chief Justice advised the new recruits that they should be above any sort of corruption or favoritism.
Mr.Eqbal also advised them to maintain discipline in sitting at the fixed time and not to delay it.
The judicial officers will undergo training for two weeks on general judicial ethics and other essentials of court management and administration at the State Judicial Academy. E.O.M
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