New Delhi:
Justice Markandey Katju today walked out of an NDTV interview that focused on his allegations that a corrupt judge was allowed to continue because of pressure from a UPA ally and "improper compromises" by three former Chief Justices of India. He left the interview when he was asked why he went public with his allegations 10 years after the event.
Justice Katju, who is chairman of the Press Council of India, wrote in the Times of India today that an additional judge in Tamil Nadu was protected by a regional ally of the Congress. (
Read Times Of India Article here)Justice Katju claims he sought an Intelligence Bureau inquiry, which confirmed the allegations against the judge.
However, he says he was "shocked" to know that the judge was given an extension because an important member of PM Manmohan Singh's coalition had threatened to quit the government otherwise. Justice Katju does not name the DMK, which was the only Tamil Nadu party that was part of the government.
He also told NDTV that former Chief Justices - Justice RC Lahoti, Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice YK Sabharwal "made improper compromises" and succumbed to political pressure.
Justice Katju alleges that Justice Sabharwal gave the tainted judge another term despite an adverse Intelligence report and Justice Balakrishnan confirmed him as permanent judge, although he transferred him to another state.
Asked why he waited till now to make his disclosure, Justice Katju said to NDTV, "Concentrate on whether what I'm saying is correct or not?" He then removed his mic and exited the interview.
Justice Balakrishnan said he had confirmed the judge based on the Madras High Court Chief Justice's recommendation. "There were allegations that this judge that he was close to the ruling party. So after confirming him I transferred him to Andhra Pradesh because of these allegations," he told NDTV.
Justice Katju's revelations stirred sparring in Parliament with members of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK waving copies of the newspaper article in both houses and demanding an inquiry.