New Delhi: The Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill proposing to lay down new norms and guidelines for judges of the higher judiciary would prefer the judges to keep mum when it comes to political issues. The Bill, slated to replace the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968 and due for placing before the Cabinet, sees two non-existent devils in the judiciary and has gone ahead in providing counter-mecha-nisms to them. It is an unwritten yet strictly followed code -- judges of the high courts or the Supreme Court never speak out on matters falling within the political domain.They also scrupulously adhere to the judicial discipline of not commenting on a judgment delivered by them.Yet,the new Bill proposes that it would be a misconduct if a judge gives an interview to the media on judgments delivered by him or participates in public debates or expresses views on political matters.
There is a proposal to set up a scrutiny committee comprising judges in every high court to deal with complaints against judges.If the committee finds merit in any complaint it would forward it for investigation by a high-level Judicial Oversight Committee.If the latter committee feels action is needed to be taken against the erring judge,it will send a recommendation to the President to that effect,the Bill proposes. The Bill also incorporates a clause restricting the time to three months for a judge to deliver a judgment after conclusion of the arguments in a case.
(source-toi)
