Never done anything wrong in my life: Former CJI Lahoti refutes Katju charges

Reactions have been flying in thick and fast to the explosive charges levelled by Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju about corruption in the judiciary. Justice Katju has spoken of allegations of corruption against an unnamed additional judge of the Madras High Court. [caption id=“attachment_194585” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Justice Katju in this file photo. PTI[/caption] Former Chief Justice of India, Justice RC Lahoti denied any wrongdoing. “Everything is a matter of record. Whatever I have done or not done is all on record with reasons. I have never done anything wrong in my life.” He was responding to Katju’s charges that despite an adverse report against a fellow judge in the Madras High Court, that three former CJIs–Justices R C Lahoti, Y K Sabharwal and K G Balakrishnan–had made “improper compromises” and “succumbed” to political pressure in allowing the judge to continue in office. Katju had also mentioned that in the wake of “many reports about the judge’s corruption” he had gone so far as to request then Chief Justice of India Justice RC Lahoti to ask for a secret Intelligence Bureau inquiry. Meanwhile the Congress has also reacted to Katju’s statement. Congress leader Rashid Alvi rubbished Katju’s allegations. “Katju wishes to remain in the news. If there was any such thing then he should have spoken at that time. Why is he speaking now?” he told  IBN-Live. Another Congress leader Veerappa Moily agreed saying, “If Katju was really concerned about the issue, he should have protested that time. It’s too late now.” Meanwhile another formre Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan told CNN-IBN, “We can say so many things in hindsight without naming the judge and the political party. His (the judge in question) appointment was challenged and please read Justice Pasayat’s judgement. If a judge faces charges of being close to the government, he has to be transferred out.” Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani told ANI that “Whatever he has said is true but I wish he would have spoken at the right time.” The CPI meanwhile, asked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress to explain their conduct, as described by Katju. Senior CPM leader D Raja also sought the creation of a National Judicial Commission to establish judicial accountability, uphold the indpendence of the judiciary and check corruption in it. “There have been allegations about corruption in the judiciary. But the fresh allegations by Katju once again stress the need for setting up of a National Judicial Commission”, he said. While Manmohan Singh and the Congress party “should explain” whether these allegations were true, Raja asked, “Why is Justice Katju raising these questions at this time?” “We don’t get to know how judges are appointed, elevated or transferred, even though we have a system of collegium. That is why people question these things”. With inputs from PTI