Controversy shrouding appointment of judges, provident fund scams and allegations of bribes had lent no grace to the Indian judiciary in the last few years. Many words have been dedicated to the compromised state of this highest organ of democracy. Attempts to shield themselves from the domain of the RTI Act had raised further questions on issues of transparency.
But the recently concluded year has been sufficiently different. In fact, ever since the appointment of Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia, as the Chief Justice of India, there has been an upliftment in the performance of the judiciary. Kapadia, unlike many of his predecessors, has been performing the real duties of a judiciary in a democracy. After assuming office, he has not only reorgansied the Supreme Court registry, which was heaving under pending cases, but has restored the air of moral integrity, which should rightfully honour the apex court of the country.
From lifting the stay on the Ayodhya verdict, questioning the appointment of P.J. Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, to demanding an affidavit from the governments on the Prime minister’s silence on the 2G scam — under his leadership, Indian judiciary has given a laudable performance.
The Supreme Court had not only challenged the government’s policy of hoarding grains, while millions in the country died of starvation, but also came down heavily on the CBI. In a much required stance, the court has been giving special attention towards the actions and decisions of the CBI, which has been receiving too much of an ill reputation for its own good. The CBI’s decision to withdraw the name of Ottavio Quattrocchi, the prime accused in the 1980’s Bofors pay off case, from the list of most wanted persons the Court was unceremoniously opposed. The central investigative agency, which was only recently chided by special magistrate Preeti Singh for the hurried closure of Aarushi Talwar murder case and was ordered to make available the closure report of the case to the victim’s father, has been repeatedly blamed for becoming a mere tool in the hands of the Congress government.
When the CBI is being thus tainted and the Central Vigilance Commission is being led by a man dipped in controversy, the country’s only hope lies with the Apex Court. But this integrity should not be a one time show. It is unexplainably important for the Supreme Court to continue to uphold ideals of integrity and justice. One can only hope that Kapadia’s successors will also come down as strongly on cases of corruption and continue the process of being efficient watchdogs for the democratic well being of the country.