The debate generated by Justice Markandey Katju should be channelized as a fruitful window of opportunity to strengthen the Indian judiciary whose credibility has been at stake in recent times. Any devious attempt by the Narendra Modi government to conveniently seize this opportunity to craftily encroach and undermine the independence of the judiciary should be forcefully thwarted.
The current Collegium mode could have been the safest and surest way to preserve the Independence of the Judiciary had it not been reduced to a cabal. The collegium has ended up being a very secret club with the proceedings not being a public record. This veil of secrecy is untenable and cannot go on. The colleguim system must be given a constitutional status with all its deliberations being very transparent and within the purview of the Right to Information Act. This may be the right time to reform the process of judicial appointments by making the judiciary accountable to the public at large while also ensuring it is totally free from political interference. Only then will the Judiciary act as a successful defensive wall against the growing excesses and abuse of power by the executive. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires
