Integrity, independence of judiciary non-negotiable: CPI-M

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said the integrity and independence of the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, is a vital pillar of the Constitution and non-negotiable.

In a statement, the Polit Bureau said, "Four of the senior most judges of the Supreme Court have held an unprecedented press conference. They have risen important issues which have a vital bearing on the institution of the Supreme Court such as the way the roster of judges are allocated to hear cases. The integrity and independence of the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, is a vital pillar of the Constitution and non-negotiable."

The party hoped that all such issues will be resolved keeping in mind the principles of democratic functioning and transparency regarding the highest court of the land.

In a first in independent India's history and a first for the Supreme Court of India, four judges addressing the media on Friday, appealed to the nation to save their institution if they wanted democracy in the country to survive.

Justices Madan B. Lokur, Kurien Joseph, Ranjan Gogoi and Jasti Chelameswar addressed the press conference on the lawns of Justice Chelameswar's official residence here.

Speaking on behalf of the four judges, Justice Chelameswar expressed his lament over the corrosion and compromise taking place within the institution of the judiciary and especially within the portals of the Supreme Court.

He said, "We owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation. Our efforts have failed in convincing the CJI (Chief Justice of India) to take steps to protect the institution."

The judges said that they have discharged a debt to the nation by issuing an appeal to the nation to save the institution (Supreme Court).

They written a letter to the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in which they expressed concerns over the functioning of the Supreme Court.

They have also raised issue Judge B.H. Loya's death. The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge B.H. Loya's postmortem report from Maharashtra government asserting that the "matter is very serious."

The apex court has posted the next hearing on the issue for Monday, 15 January.