'SC judges' appeal shows Indian judiciary's loss of prestige'

Former law minister H R Bhardwaj on Friday said the appeal made by four judges of the Supreme Court of India suggests that the Apex court has lost prestige by coming out with a complaint in public.

Bhardwaj told ANI, "This is declining the standards in the judiciary that they are fighting amongst themselves. The proper way for the judiciary is to sit in their dining hall with closed doors and discuss. This move is a loss of prestige of the entire institution that they are coming in public. It has maligned the image of judiciary in public. If you lost public confidence, then what will remain."

He added that the government is not at all interested in the judiciary.

"Power of judiciary is used against criminals and corrupt people, therefore, the government does not like the judiciary. Our country has the reputation of getting the best judiciary and best court since Independence, from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru's days up to Atal Bihari Vajpayee's time. Vajpayee always listened to the Chief Justice," Bhardwaj stated.

He further said the judiciary must be respected, must be kept independent and made the strongest pillar of democracy.

"Any kind of problem is the responsibility of the government, because the President passes that responsibility to the government. It is entirely the responsibility of the Law Minister to see that the judiciary is satisfied and carries out its duty," Bhardwaj said.

Former Supreme Court Judge A K Ganguly said it would create apprehensions in the minds of the people.

"I feel very disturbed over the issue, this should not have happened, but it has and there might be strong reasons for them. Consequence would be it would create apprehensions in minds of people," he added.

In an unprecedented press conference earlier in the day, four judges - Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurien Joseph, Ranjan Gogoi and J Chelameswar- said that "things are not in order" in the functioning of the Supreme Court.

Speaking on behalf of the four judges, Justice Chelameswar said, "We owe a responsibility to the institution and the nation. Our efforts have failed in convincing the CJI to take steps to protect the institution."

"The hallmark of a good democracy is an independent and impartial judge. The judge is symbolic here, it is the institution," he said.