Most of us were taught about the Indian Constitution back in our school days. It is a sacred document, formed by our forefathers once the British left, consisting of three important pillars – the Legislature: one who enacts the law; the Executive: one who implements the law; and the Judiciary: the one who upholds the law.
But when the Judiciary itself is not doing its duty, there is a deep systematic problem. Judges are shielding judges, not letting investigations take off, not allowing publication of instances of corruption and not acting against judges found to have indulged in corrupt behavior.
And the onus of judging the judges lands on us, the people. Even though we may not be voting for them, we have the power to do something. Enter: the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) an initiative convened by public interest advocate and anti-corruption activist Prashant Bhushan that works with activists, litigants, lawyers, and those in the judiciary itself to expose and act against corruption, nepotism and misbehavior in the judiciary.
We collect and verify facts, file complaints and public interest litigation to check the rot within the judiciary and in an effort to make it more transparent and accountable. We strive to uphold the dignity and the integrity of the foremost guardian of India’s constitution, in a constitutional manner.
There is a serious problem of accountability in the Judiciary. Take for example the Prasad Education Trust Medical College case where the CBI had registered an FIR against corruptive practices aimed at obtaining a favourable judgment from the Supreme Court. But rather than taking note of the allegations, the SC imposed high costs on the CJAR to stop it taking up cases of judicial corruption.
CJAR wants to involve more and more citizens to help rectify this injustice and more others.
We want to take this campaign people to the people of this country – We want to to make this is a people’s campaign.
CJAR plans to fight this illegal and vindictive Supreme Court order by filing a review and curative petition. Contributions will be used to strengthen the campaign, support its secretariat in the many cases of judicial corruption that it investigates, organise public hearings, discussions, seminars, public action at bar associations and colleges across the country.
We need to take this fight forward, and now we need your help. We believe every Indian has a stake in ensuring the judiciary is corruption free. Help us hold the judges accountable to you.
Participate in the mass movement to give India the independent and impartial, people-friendly and efficient judicial system we all deserve.