Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has to be lauded for having publicly vowed not to accept any post retirement role or position from the government. A very humble jurist with robust thinking. Let us hope other Judges will similarly follow this very accomplished Justice.
The public rightly view with suspicion and wonder how much independence truly exists in a system where Judges appointed even to the highest court, thereafter on retirement hold lucrative political appointments. This clearly shatters the people’s trust and faith in the Judiciary.
History records that many noble Judges in the past have acted like Justice Gavai. In 2010 Delhi High Court Chief Justice, AP Shah resolved not to seek any office post Retirement but decided to associate himself with the late Baba Amte’s Anand Wan Ashram at Chandrapur district in Maharashtra. Actively engaging in social work, tackling problems like lack of access to the health care services for the mentally disabled. A very noble way of giving back to society.
Individuals tilted or aligned towards any political party should never be in the Judiciary. Judges should have the moral backbone to crack down on the illegalities involving politicians, regardless of how high positioned they are, ensuring that judicial accountability is maintained at all times with every Judge conforming to the highest standards of impartiality and integrity.
Caroline Kennedy, a famous attorney and diplomat reminds us that ‘The bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law and that means we have to have an independent judiciary, judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing’.
