Court says judges are not caged parrots

A court here Monday said judges are not "caged parrots" while rejecting a plea seeking further direction to probe the role of former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in the railway bribery case.

The court was hearing a plea moved by NGO Delhi Pradesh Social Progress Society (DPSPS), seeking further direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate Bansal's role, alleging that the agency had not investigated it "purposely".

The court rejected it saying the petition was "devoid of merit" and that in the present case, charges have already been framed against the accused.

"While dealing with cases of corruption, it will be appropriate and wise to pass orders which send a strong message to society that judges do not work as caged parrots and the judiciary in this country works freely without fear or pressure," said the court.

It was alleged that the telephone line of the then minister was used by the arrested accused, including Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla. The petitioner had sought further probe into it.

The CBI had named Singla, suspended Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar and eight others as accused in the case.

CBI mentioned Bansal as a witness in the case in its charges filed July 2013.

"The other apprehension of the applicant that since Pawan Kumar Bansal has been cited as a witness by CBI, it is with mala fide intention is also devoid of merit since I have already observed that courts do not work as post office of CBI or any prosecuting agency," the judge said.