The Chief Justice has shown concern for frivolous complaints against the judiciary [/h2]
By India Legal Team
The Chief Justice of India, HL Dattu (above) recently expressed his concern over the rising number of frivolous complaints filed against members of the subordinate judiciary which are received by high courts in various states.
In a “confidential letter” (left) addressed to DH Waghela, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice Dattu wrote that most of these unsubstantiated allegations were aimed at tarnishing the image of the judiciary. Though some of these complaints may be genuine, a majority of them are made at the behest of those within and outside the judiciary who had vested interests with a personal agenda, he pointed out.
The CJI’s move comes after many complaints were received in high courts against the judiciary. He wanted all high courts to come out with a procedure which would tackle such complaints and set guidelines for courts to follow in this regard.
Justice Dattu suggested the following steps:
a) Complaints against members of the subordinate judiciary in the state should not be entertained and no action should be taken thereon, unless it is accompanied by a duly sworn affidavit and veritable material to substantiate the allegations made therein.
b) If action on such complaints meeting the above requirement is deemed necessary, auth-enticity of the complaint should be duly ascertained and further steps taken only after satisfaction of the competent authority designated by the chief justice of the high court.
c) If the above requirements are not complied with, the complaint should be filed or lodged without taking any steps thereon.
Justice Dattu also instructed Justice Waghela to circulate the guidelines among his colleagues in the high court as well as subordinate courts for wider publicity.
