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Panel Discussion |
| A Panel discussion on "Judicial Accountability - Appointment, Investigations and Removal" is organised by the Campaign on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at Plenary Hall, Indian Law Institute, Bhagwan Das Road, New Delhi. ...background note |
More News on Judges Scam |
| - PM calls for introspection on judicial appointments;Sept 12, 2008 ...more - A Rough Justice; Indian Express; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - UP cops want CBI probe against 34 judges; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - CBI can question two P&H High Court Judges; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - How to Judge a Judge; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - PF scam: UP getsflak for failing to order CBI probe; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - Stemming rot; Judges dont need complete immunity says CJI; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - Justice Sen not resigning; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - Judging the Judge; Sept 10, 2008 ...more - Kolkatta Judges case adds to judicial woes; Sept 09 , 2008 ...more - Why it's s difficult to remove a judge; Sept 09, 2008 ...more - Centre moves to impeach HC judge; Sept 09, 2008 ...more - CJI recommends impeachment of Calcutta HC judge; Sept 08, 2008 ...more |
Ghaziabad Judges Scam |
| - The Hindu; July 15, 2008 ...more - Hindustan Times; July 15, 2008 ...more - Indian Express; July 15, 2008 ...more - Hindustan Times; July 13, 2008 ...more - The Hindu; July 08, 2008 ...more - Times of India; July 08, 2008 ...more - The Telegraph; July 08, 2008 ...more - ZEE News; July 04, 2008 ...more |
In an attempt to settle the controversy surrounding the implementation of Right to Information Act in the judiciary, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed Supreme Court officials and the Department of Personnel and
Training to present their views on the matter.
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| In a development unprecedented in the country's judicial history, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the government's anti-corruption watchdog, has forwarded a set of complaints with allegations of corruption and misconduct against former Chief Justice of India YK Sabharwal to the government for further action. |
Contrary to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court recently said, the Right to Information Act does cover 'constitutional authorities' ...more |
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"...corruption is another challenge we face both in government and judiciary". Prime Minister in his address to Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Court. ..more |
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TWO RECENT judgements of the Supreme Court on judicial activism and PILs have expectedly generated a spirited controversy within the Supreme Court and outside about the scope and limits of the court's jurisdiction in PILs and about judicial activism in general. That is why a threejudge bench of the Supreme Court has decided to review the issues and lay down guidelines for PILs and judicial activism. ..more |
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There are several instances where the Indian judicial establishment has tried to dilute the applicability of RTI to the courts and the judicial system. No matter what the issue, the penultimate interpretation lies with the courts, and RTI is no exception. ..more |
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| The Second National Convention on "The Judiciary and The Poor" was held on 23rd and 24th February, 2008 at the Indian Society for International Law, 9 Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi. The Convention passed a Statement which was endorsed by all the participating organisations and Individuals. ...more |
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The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reform had, on coming across documentary evidence showing serious acts of misconduct by Justice Jagdish Bhalla, the then senior Judge of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, taken steps to request an inquiry into the allegations against Justice Bhalla. It now appears that despite the serious allegations levelled against him, on the basis of documentary evidence, Justice Bhalla may soon be elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the High Court at Himachal Pradesh. In these circumstances the only method left for getting these charges inquired into is through the process of impeachment under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. Three eminent jurists of the country, namely, former Union Law Ministers Mr. Shanti Bhushan and Mr. Ram Jethmalani as well as former Member of Parliament Mr. Fali S. Nariman have issued a call to all MPs cutting across party lines to sign the impeachment motion which has been drafted and is now being forwarded to members of parliament for their consideration. ...more |
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| National convention on the "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied" was held in Mumbai on 22nd-23rd December 2007. It was organised by Janhit Manch. Invitation-pdf (10.4 KB); A Brief Report-pdf (114 KB); Photos-inaugral; panel |
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Seminar on "Securing Judicial Accountability" |
The Seminar on "Securing Judicial Accountability." The Seminar was on the central Issue of Judicial Accountability in light of two broad issues, namely the freedom of speech and expression vs. the law of contempt and the establishment of an Independent National Judicial Commission. The panel was comprised of several eminent political leaders, senior jurists and senior journalists who built a consensus on the need for an Independant National Judicial Commission and the need for a change in the archaic law of contempt. The Seminar was well attended by the media, members of the bar, academics and other members of civil society. Background Paper - pdf (27.5 KB), Panel-pdf (10.4 KB), Photo-panel discussion |
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Regional Seminar in Jaipur |
| On 8 th September 2007, a seminar was held in Jaipur on 'Right to Justice & Judicial Accountability'. It was organized by The Committee for Accountability and Judicial Reforms and Academy for Socio-Legal Studies. A Brief Report-pdf (114 KB) |
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Press Conference was organised to highlight a grave case of Judicial Misconduct at the Apex of the Indian Judiciary. It disclosed how the then Chief Justice of India who had spearheaded the sealing drive was mired in serious conflict of interest in as much as his sons were deeply involved in the business of shopping malls and commercial complexes who stood to benefit from this sealing drive. It was addressed by Shri Shanti Bhushan, former Union Law Minister, Mr. Bhaskar Rao, Chairman, Centre for Media Studies, and Mr. Prashant Bhushan, advocate, Supreme Court among other. The Press Conference was attended by 40 news agencies and 80 participants. ...more |
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The Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad (ASCI) joined the Centre for Media Studies, Delhi (CMS), which is one of the key constituents of the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Judicial Reforms (CJAR), in organising a one – day seminar on the Judicial Reforms in Hyderabad on June 20, 2007 held at Bella Vista campus of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) on Rajbhavan Road , Hyderabad. Hyderabad Declaration - pdf (69.7 KB); Concept note - pdf (184 KB); (photos) |
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| On 10-11 March 2007, the First People’s Convention on Judicial Accountability & Reforms and was organised at New Delhi . Attended by over 200 people, the meeting saw active participation of representatives of civil society organisations, eminent jurists, lawyers and concerned individuals....more |
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For establishing the National Judicial Council to undertake preliminary investigation and inquire into allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity of a Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court and to regulate the procedure for such investigation, inquiry and proof, and for imposing minor measures; and for the presentation of an address by Parliament to the President and for matters connected therewith. Judges Inquiry Bill sparks a row - pdf (7.25 KB) |
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TV journalist been asked to apologise for carrying a sting operation exposing the corruption in judiciary. Media Overreached - pdf (6.9 KB) |
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Lakshmanan was embroiled in a controversy last March when he broke down in the court and refused to hear the disproportionate assets case against the then UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav saying he has received an anonymous letter containing certain allegations and was under pressure. Anonymous letter - pdf (24.5 KB) |
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Appointment of Justice Ashok Kumar as a permanent Judge of Chennai High Court has been challeged in Supreme Court. News articles - Times of India -pdf (6.93 KB) ; The Hindu -pdf (10.0 KB) |
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An Initiative has been taken to institute informal judicial system at the village level. These courts will not be constraints by following the CCP and the EA and deal with the case involving claims/offences punishable upto 1 lakh. Gram Nyalayas Bill, 2007 - pdf (177 KB) 114 LC Gram Nyayalya - pdf (8.22 MB) |
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Appeal filed by the Union of India against the order of CIC in the case of Shri SC Aggarwal who filed an RTI application to the President’s Secretariat and Dept of Justice, Union of India to get the information on the appointment of the Justice Vijendra Jain as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court. He was refused the information and later filed an appeal to CIC wherein the CIC allowed the appeal and asked the Union of India to give the information. The Union of India moved to the Delhi High Court on the grounds that the Dept of Justice is in fiduciary relationship with the collegium of judges and will not be able to give such information to the third party. A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of Shri SC Aggarwal for the vacation of the stay. CIC's order on application fees - pdf (25 KB) CIC's decision on High Court fees - pdf (18.8 KB) |
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There was a time when the Courts in India , particularly the Supreme Court waxed eloquent about the “Right to Information”, being a part of the Constitutionally enshrined right to speech and expression. Thus, while rejecting the government’s claim of privilege on the Blue book containing the security instructions for the Prime Minister in Indira Gandhi’s case, the Court said, “In a government of responsibility like ours, where all the agents of the public must be responsible for their conduct, there can be but few secrets. The people of this country have a right to know every public act, everything, that is done in a public way by their public functionaries.” |
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A Transparency International report released on Thursday says that 77 per cent of respondents in a survey in India believe the judiciary is corrupt. |
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