Shilpi Nama
On 4th June, 2025, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, speaking at the U.K. Supreme Court, reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding public trust and integrity. He underscored the importance of maintaining judicial independence even after a judge’s tenure ends.
Expanding on this, he cautioned against judges accepting government appointments or contesting elections immediately after retirement or resignation. Such actions, he noted, raise serious ethical concerns and can create a perception of bias, potentially undermining the impartiality of the judiciary and eroding public confidence in its decisions.
He warned that such post-retirement roles can create a perception of bias, potentially undermining public confidence in judicial decisions. The Chief Justice cited the 2015 striking down of the National Judicial Appointments Commission as a vital defense against attempts to dilute judicial independence, stressing that any reforms must not jeopardize judges’ autonomy.
Gavai acknowledged recent instances of judicial corruption and asserted that swift, transparent action has been the Supreme Court’s response to such misconduct. He also referenced the anticipated removal motion against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma as an example of accountability in practice.
To promote transparency and trust, the CJI noted initiatives such as voluntary asset disclosures by judges, live-streaming of proceedings, real-time updates on case pendency, and translation of judgments into regional languages. He also highlighted the importance of public interest litigation and Article 32, calling it the “soul” of the Constitution for enabling citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly.
Emphasizing the inviolability of democracy, rule of law, and separation of powers, Gavai stressed the judiciary’s role in providing checks on arbitrary power and asserted the necessity of independent judicial review in assessing the constitutionality of laws and government actions.
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