Better late than never: Katju on why his revelations have come after 9 years

Justice Markandey Katju who in his blog post on Sunday sought to expose how an allegedly corrupt judge in the Madras High Court continued in office despite a collegium recommendation against his confirmation today refused to explain why he had brought up the allegations now, saying “it was better late than never”.

Walking out of an interview with NDTV, Katju said, “The question is whether what I am saying is correct or not. If I had made it (the allegations) earlier, how does it matter? Concentrate on what the issue is.”

Meawhile, protests erupted in Rajya Sabha forcing an adjournment after AIADMK MPs raised slogans against the Congress.

The Congress, however, slammed Katju questioning the timing of his revelations.

In his blog post, which was also posted on his Facebook page, Katju writes about an unnamed Madras high court judge who allegedly had several adverse entries against him recorded by various portfolio judges. When he (Katju) was appointed Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 2004, he was prompted by the “many reports about his corruption” to request then Chief Justice of India Justice RC Lahoti to ask for a secret Intelligence Bureau inquiry.

The IB confirmed the reports of corruption, Katju writes and, as the judge’s two-year tearm as additional judge was coming to an end, a Supreme Court collegium of judges dealing with high court appointments “recommended in view of the adverse IB report” that the judge be discontinued. Six other additional judges appointed along with him were confirmed and made permanent judges.

The Supreme Court collegium’s report was sent to the Union government, but there was a fresh twist in the tale – a political party whose support was critical to the then UPA government reportedly blocked the recommendation.

“One such ally was the party in Tamil Nadu which was backing this corrupt judge. On coming to know of the recommendation of the three-judge Supreme Court collegium they strongly objected to it.

The information I got was that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was at that time leaving for New York to attend the UN general assembly session. At the Delhi airport, he was told by ministers of the Tamil Nadu party that by the time he returned from New York his government would have fallen as their party would withdraw support to the UPA (for not continuing that additional judge).”