Ahmedabad, October 21: Supreme Court Justice B.R. Gavai said that a judge’s behavior on and off the bench should adhere to high standards of judicial ethics.
He stated that a judge praising a politician or bureaucrat while in office and beyond the bounds of courtesy could affect people’s trust in the entire judiciary.
A judge resigning to contest elections could impact the public’s perception of impartiality. Judicial ethics and integrity are fundamental pillars that maintain the credibility of the legal system.
Justice Gavai gave an example where a US Supreme Court Justice had to apologize for comments criticizing a presidential candidate.
Justice Gavai was speaking at an annual conference for judicial officers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Justice B.R. Gavai said that maintaining public trust in the judiciary is essential. The theoretical reason is that if people’s trust in the judiciary diminishes, they will seek justice outside the judicial system.
He said people might resort to corruption or mob justice for settling disputes. This could damage law and order in society. People may hesitate to file cases and appeal against judgments.
Justice Gavai said – Lengthy litigation and slow court procedures create disillusionment with the judicial system. Delays in delivering justice make it difficult to ensure fair hearings. Trust in the judicial system decreases, leading to perceptions of injustice and negligence.
The Justice said that delays in justice harm those defendants who are later found innocent. This also increases overcrowding in prisons.
Justice Gavai said that video conferencing and live streaming of constitutional bench proceedings are increasing the transparency of the court. This is a good step. It allows the public to see decisions in real-time.