Karnataka Assembly discusses working of judiciary

Nobody talks about corruption in the judiciary. If someone does, there will be contempt, said Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar

The Legislative Assembly on Friday expressed concerns over the functioning of and “corruption” in the judiciary.

This discussion was triggered after former Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar raised questions on “judicial activism” during the debate on the 2021-22 Budget.

“Judiciary is fiercely independent, but is also tyrannical sometimes,” Kumar said. “The lamp of justice is wavering and there are fears it would go off.”

Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar raised the issue of corruption. “Nobody talks about corruption in the judiciary. If someone does, there will be contempt,” said Shettar, a former chief minister and Speaker. “Many retired chief justices of India have noted that more than 50% of the judiciary is corrupt,” he said, adding that there would be “anarchy” if the judiciary went awry.

Another former Speaker K G Bopaiah pointed to the difference of views on justice delivery itself. “It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. But, judges themselves say ‘justice hurried is justice buried’. What does that mean?” he asked.

He also raised the question of supremacy. “There is a legislature or Parliament...where is the provision to override them? We have the privilege to speak here, but I won’t be surprised if the legislature is also held in contempt in the coming days.”

He raised the issue of the judiciary’s attempt to curtail the Speaker’s power with respect to the anti-defection law.

Senior JD(S) MLA A T Ramaswamy asked if judges were above the law. “The honourable High Court and Supreme Court judges aren’t government employees. They are Constitutional representatives. But are they above law? No action was taken even after 84 High Court and Supreme Court judges got sites under Judicial Employees Housing Co-operative Society, of which they can’t even become members,” he said.

Senior MLAs H K Patil and K M Shivalinge Gowda underlined the need to introspect. “Nobody in this world comes from devaloka, be it judges or us,” Gowda said.

BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra complained that the judiciary treated legislators like criminals. “For the court opening ceremony in my village, they don’t want me sitting next to them. We pass their budget, so we are supreme. But how are they treating the legislature?” he said.

Law Minister Basavaraj Bommai opined that the legislature, executive and judiciary have been repeatedly put to test in the 72-year journey of democracy. “Laws are ambiguous and interpreted differently. If we correct this (ambiguity), interference will reduce,” he said. “But if the legislature doesn’t address it and the judiciary exceeds its limits, we have to take measures for electoral or judicial reforms.”