Former SC judge, who denied judge extension, backs Katju

KOLKATA: Former Supreme Court judge Ruma Pal, who was part of the three-member collegium that refused to give an extension to a "corrupt" Madras high court judge, has told TOI that what Justice Markandey Katju had said about the judge and his getting an extension despite an IB inquiry establishing his corruption was indeed true.
Pal said, "I am aware of the incident. Whatever Justice Katju has said is true." Her affirmation of the episode confirms Katju's allegation – that the Supreme Court had found the judge to be corrupt, and that the UPA government had leaned on the then Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti to give the judge an extension.
Pal's affirmation would indicate that Justice Lahoti was now seeking to duck the issue when he responded to Katju's six questions to him, saying that it was beneath his dignity to join the debate. Her comment is also significant in the wake of the controversy in which a section of the judiciary has openly questioned Katju's motive in revealing the matter at a time when the former additional judge is dead and five CJIs have retired.
Another former Supreme Court judge Asok Kumar Ganguly expressed concern over the alleged political influence in regard to the appointment of an additional judge in the Madras high court. Justice Ganguly was chief justice of the Madras high court for seven months between May 2008 and December 2008 till he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
"I can't place this additional judge because he got the appointment after I joined the Supreme Court in December 2008. However, it is a matter of great concern. It is quite worrisome for the independence of the judiciary if the Chief Justice of India had taken a decision under political influence," the former Supreme Court judge said.
Former chief justice of the Bombay and Calcutta high courts Chittotosh Mookerjee, however, felt that this may not have been an appropriate time for Justice Katju to reveal the matter. "I don't deny that there is corruption though it is less in the Supreme Court. If what Justice Katju has said is correct, it should serve as a warning against political and administrative interference in elevation of judges. However, I fail to understand why Justice Katju chose to reveal this so many years after the incident. Why was he quiet for so long? The additional judge he mentions is no more and several CJIs have retired after Justice Lahoti. There is nobody to question his claims. What purpose will it serve now? To me, the timing is inappropriate," Justice Mookerjee said.
Former Supreme Court judge G N Ray also believes that the matter should not have been raked up after so many years. "I don't know whether this is correct but the whole matter is very unfortunate. It's a very old matter and need not have been raked up now. So far as Justice Lahoti goes, I know him personally. He could have done no wrong," he said.