Advocates’ Association to urge CJ to write to Karnataka Speaker over honey-trapping

The Advocates Association Bangalore (AAB) has passed a resolution to urge the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka to write to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to look into the veracity of allegations made on the floor of the House that even some judges are honey-trapped. 

The resolution was passed at the AAB’s special general body meeting on Monday on the issue of corruption in judiciary in the wake of cash found at the residence of Justice Yashwant Verma in Delhi. 

In connection with the cash haul found at Justice Verma’s residence, the AAB has resolved to hold a candlelight vigil to send a message that there is a need to dispel the darkness and bring light to the judiciary.

The candlelight vigil will be held against instances of corruption in the judiciary and to inform the Chief Justice of India to take immediate steps to improve the accountability and administration in the judiciary in Karnataka. The AAB has also resolved that the judges of the higher judiciary and all high courts against whom there are allegations of corruption must be transferred from their parent high court to other high courts. 

The AAB has stated that the Karnataka High Court collegium must compose of Karnataka high court judges to ensure representation of Karnataka in the state high court collegium. 

“The collegium system is not turning out to be a proper and efficient system to curb corruption in judiciary and to bring accountability of judges. There are many instances of nepotism in appointments made by collegium and this is reducing the faith of advocates and the public in the system. Drastic modifications are necessary to bring transparency in appointment of judges and accountability of the judges,” the AAB resolution stated.