With the political class grappling with the aftermath of the sensational discovery of huge amounts of cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence, CJI B R Gavai said instances of corruption and misconduct in judiciary adversely impact public faith in the judicial system .Speaking on the topic ‘Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence’ at UK Supreme Court, CJI Gavai said, “Sadly, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary. Such incidents inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially eroding faith in the integrity of the system.” The CJI did not mention Justice Varma, but legal and judicial quarters almost unanimously reckoned that the ‘cash-at-kothi’ scam could have been the trigger for his candid observations. “Path to rebuilding this trust lies in swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address these issues,” the CJI said as he emphasised that legitimacy & public confidence in judiciary could not be secured through coercion of command (contempt proceedings) but through credibility earned by courts. “Any erosion of this confidence risks weakening the judiciary’s constitutional role as the ultimate arbiter of rights,” he added. The CJI said every system, no matter how robust, was susceptible to professional misconduct. “In India, SC has consistently taken appropriate measures to address the misconduct,” he added.
