New Delhi:
Justice Markandey Katju's disclosure on the alleged role of politicians and judges in saving a corrupt judge fueled sparring in Parliament for the second day today.
Uproar in the Lok Sabha forced two adjournments.
Stating that the "clock can't be turned back", the government referenced the controversy to press for a National Judicial Commission.
"The honourable judge has retired and is no more. The other judges have retired. The clock can't be put back. But yes, there's an imperative need to improve the system of appointment of judges," said Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Justice Katju, the chairman of the Press Council of India, has alleged that a corrupt judge was allowed to continue in the Madras High Court despite serious allegations against him because of pressure on then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from a Tamil Nadu ally. He did not mention the DMK, which was the UPA's only ally in Tamil Nadu at the time.
Breaking his silence, Dr Manmohan Singh today said, "Then law minister HR Bhardwaj has spoken. I have nothing to add."
The DMK's rival AIADMK, which rules Tamil Nadu, today disrupted both houses with loud demands for an investigation into the allegations.
"How can ministers interfere in judicial appointments?" questioned AIADMK's Thambidurai. The Congress said the judiciary cannot be discussed in Parliament unless it is on the impeachment of a judge.
Justice Katju had yesterday also accused that three former Chief Justices of India gave in to political pressure and made "improper compromises" to keep the corrupt judge.
Today, he confronted one of them, Justice RC Lahoti, with six questions.
"Is it, or is it not, correct that after that recommendation of the 3 Judge Collegium of the Supreme Court was sent to the Government of India, he (Justice Lahoti), on his own, without consulting his 2 other Supreme Court Collegium colleagues, wrote a letter to the Government of India asking the Government to give another 1 year term as Additional Judge to the concerned Judge?" Justice Katju asked today in a blog.
He accused Justice Lahoti of going against the collegium's recommendation.