Four judges have shown CJI in poor light, says R S Sodhi

Former judge R S Sodhi on 12 January criticised the appeal made by four judges of the Supreme Court of India, saying they had Chief Justice Dipak Misra in a poor light.

Speaking to ANI, Sodhi said, "Issues do not matter, but it is their complaint on administration that matters. They are only four,but there are 23 others. These four got together and showed the chief justice in poor light. It is immature and childish behaviour. I think all four judges should be impeached."

Justices Madan B. Lokur, Kurien Joseph, Ranjan Gogoi and Jasti Chelameswar today addressed the press conference here in which they appealed to the nation to save their institution if they wanted democracy in the country to survive.

Sodhi added that the four judges have no business to sit in the apex court and deliver verdicts anymore.

"This trade unionism is wrong. Democracy is in danger is not for them to say, we have the Parliament, courts and police functioning for that," he asserted.

Senior Supreme Court advocate K T S Tulsi said there must have been some compelling reason for these judges to adopt this course of action.

"This is an unprecedented step and shocking. I am sure they have exhausted all other remedies, and if they did, one could see the pain on their faces while they were speaking. The whole matter is with regard to juridical propriety, the question is of 'natural justice'. It's unfortunate, and I am sure, their conscious is tricking them, that's why they have chosen this unprecedented step," he added.

Tulsi further said they have gone to the public and people will reinforce their love and respect for the institution.

"It is for the first time that there are allegations against a sitting chief justice. I believe judges concerned should themselves deal with the matter," he asserted.

In a first in independent India's history and a first for the Supreme Court of India, four judges addressing the media today, appealed to the nation to save their institution if they wanted democracy in the country to survive.

Speaking on behalf of the four judges, Justice Chelameswar expressed his lament over the corrosion and compromise taking place within the institution of the judiciary and especially within the portals of the Supreme Court.

He said, "We owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation. Our efforts have failed in convincing the CJI to take steps to protect the institution."

"Even this morning, the four of us went and met the Chief Justice of India and tried to persuade him to accept that certain things are not in order and that he should take remedial measures. Unfortunately, we couldn't convince him. We all (four judges) are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and (is allowed to) maintain its equanimity, democracy will not survive in this country or any country," Justice Chelameswar added.

"The hallmark of a good democracy is an independent and impartial judge. The judge is symbolic here, it is an institution," he said. 

-ANI