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There can be no words strong enough to emphasise the need to maintain the independence and integrity of the Judiciary. When all the avenues to seek justice are exhausted the common man's only hope is to knock at the doors of the Judiciary. The findings of the former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice A.B. Saharya, should be a loud and clear wake up call. Justice Saharya in his report has indicted Justice Amar Bir Singh Gill and Justice M.L.Singhal for the favours they allegedly sought from the then Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Sidhu for the selection of their daughters and Justice Mehtab Singh Gill for his involvement in Sidhu�s operations. Justice Saharya has very bluntly and rightly told the Chief Justice of India to, "act against the three judges �tainted� in the Punjab Public Service Commission scam or else the credibility of the Judiciary is at stake.� Justice Saharya said the greatest challenge he faced while conducting his inquiry was "the resort to falsehood" by the three judges. Every citizen has a role to play in maintaining the highest standards of the judicial institutions. Of course we lawyers have the major responsibility to ensure that under no circumstances should we contribute by our acts and deeds to desecrate the temples of justice that the founding fathers of the Constitution had visualised would be eternally sacrosanct. The merits of each case should be the sole determining factor in pronouncing judgement. Never should any other factor of cash or kind and still worse political or ideological bias influence the verdict of the Judge. The system should not be allowed to go to dogs and nor should the violators of law be allowed to fish in troubled waters. Goa is a small state and it should be easier, unlike in the Punjab, to monitor those judges who by their actions sully the reputation of their profession. Judges should be so remunerated that it should not necessitate the seeking of favours in cash or kind on the side. Today we also have to watch out that elements with communal RSS affiliations do not sneak into judicial gowns. It is vital to hound all such elements out of judicial positions. profession. The Government of Goa recently hiked its MLAs pay but sadly the issue of raising the Judges� salaries has been deferred. For a free and independent judiciary to be a reality it has to be ensured that the politicians in power should have no direct or indirect control whatsoever on the judicial officers. Courts have to be treated with utmost respect and the valuable time of the Courts should not be wasted with causes that are not for the public good. I have myself had people appealing to me in vain to file Public Interest Litigations to settle their private grievances. Let it be known that I will not be taken for a ride. Prudence demands that one applies one�s mind judiciously in differentiating between a Public and Private litigation. On the other hand I have had to spurn requests not to take up certain public interest causes just because it would harm somebody�s friend or family member�s interest. Anyone making such a call should realise that it is a wasted attempt and would only benefit the financial interests of Goa Telecom or AT & T if it were a frantic mobile call. Justice should be seen to happen and not remain a mere vision. Ours is a noble profession and it is our deeds and not the deals we strike that matter. For making a fast buck, politics, or still better, setting up a NGO may be a more viable and realistic proposition! The Judiciary has to be transparent and never should the Government try to mishandle it, presuming the Courts to be one of its own departments. The Judiciary process has to be free and fair with no trace of match fixing. We have seen enough of it in Cricket! Aires Rodrigues Ribandar ---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa: * Oct 26-Oct 30: Painting exhibition, Kala Academy art gallery. * Oct 28: Panjim Passport Office shifts to new EDC Complex premises. * Oct 29-31: Sale of polytechnic trainees garments, Govt Polytech, Panjim * Oct 29-31: Films on architect Le Corbusier, Goa Col. of Architecture * Nov 1-17: Swimming classes for children, others. SAG pool, Fatorda * Nov 1: Antonio Costa's painting exhibition, Fundacao Oriente 6.30pm * Nov 4: Book release, on Dr Gama Pinto, Lourdes Convent Saligao ----------------------------------------------------------
