Why should we be surprised if our judges need to judged? The people of India have only the judiciary to turn to for all other institutions have failed us. Recently, the Supreme Court of India admonished a sessions judge for unnecessarily issuing a non-bailable arrest warrant. The errant judge R K Tiwari had also directed the police to declare an accused a ‘proclaimed offender’ in an electricity theft case. The Delhi High Court had ordered Justice Tiwari to return as a student to the same law-school where he currently also teaches. The Supreme Court has overruled that order. The Indian Express reports the apex court’s displeasure at judges flouting the law and issuing non-bailable arrest warrants too fast. This was found to be sadistic.

There are two issues of pan-Indian significance involved in this case. Firstly, there is the case of lesser men occupying the judiciary. Few months back there was a magistrate in Kolkata who hopped illegally into the cabin of a local train even after the driver had refused to let him enter. He had wanted to avoid the office-going rush. Later on the driver was proved to be right and only the magistrate’s office as a symbol suffered. A judge is not a private man when he passes judgments. He is the symbol of our nation’s impartial and secular glory. Then there was the case of two Justices entering into fist-fights which news was splashed all over the country. It may not be a bad idea if someday our Justices are chosen after screening them for emotional stability. Emotional Quotient or EQ is often a better hallmark of a person than one’s Intelligent Quotient or IQ.

The Supreme Court has once again snubbed the politicians by correcting one of its own. This is unheard of in the political realm where there exists only nepotism and favoritism. The politicians keep on shouting slogans against the possible horrors of the judiciary becoming too powerful and interfering with the legislature. From this judgment it does not seem ever likely that the Courts will betray the Indian people.If the past is any indication of the future, then definitely we are in safe hands. After all, the past of these politicians who are always trumpeting their futures is often not worth talking about in polite society.

Via: Indian Express

Image: Culturopedia