Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra unfurled the flag at the Supreme Court. (File photo)
Highlights
- Positive, concrete reforms must be undertaken with responsibility: CJI
- Four judges had pointed fingers at the "administration of Supreme Court"
- The judges held an unprecedented press conference earlier this year
Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra today cautioned those criticising the judiciary from outside and within by saying it is easy to destroy a system than to build it.
Justice Misra, unfurling the national flag at the lawns of the Supreme Court on the 72nd Independence Day, said, "to criticize, attack and destroy a system is quite easy... what is difficult and challenging is to transform it to a performing one. For this, one has to transcend one's personal ambitions and grievances. Rather constructive steps need to be taken with positive mindset of reform, no matter howsoever small."
He said, "Concrete reforms must be undertaken with rationality, maturity, responsibility and composure" and that "it is necessary to be productive instead of being counter-productive".
The comments come in the wake of some lawyers criticising judiciary on television shows.
The Chief Justice said, "There may be some elements trying to weaken the institution... But we refuse, you and I altogether, to succumb to them... We have to serve the lady of justice, the queen of justice. She holds the scales of justice symbolising that the act of delivering and imparting justice has to be balanced as far as possible and that is the basic essence of justice. Anyone who tries to create any kind of dent in that balance is hurting the queen of justice. And when queen of justice sheds tears, possibly all of us will shed tears".
Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh, speaking at the function, referred to media reports about some comments made by Judges during the hearing and asked Judges and lawyers not to make unnecessary comments.