File pic: Justice Markandey Katju
Weeks after his allegations that a corrupt judge was protected by politicians and top judges, former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has made more controversial remarks against former Chief Justices of India.
"Chief Justices are reluctant to expose corruption thinking it will defame the judiciary," Justice Katju has written in a new blog, naming two in particular, Justice HS Kapadia and Justice RC Lahoti.
He alleges that Chief Justice HS Kapadia did not act against a corrupt Allahabad High Court judge though allegations against him were confirmed.
"There were several complaints about an Allahabad High Court judge and though the corruption angle was confirmed, then CJI Justice Kapadia did not take any action," Justice Katju writes.
He has also accused former Chief Justice Lahoti of not acting against five Allahabad High Court judges "who were doing shocking things".
He writes that he had suggested that the judges should be barred from entering court premises. "When I said this Justice Lahoti said 'Please do not do this, because then the politicians will get a handle, and then they will set up a National Judicial Commission," Justice Katju says.
He said some of the judges were transferred to another High Court. "But is transfer a solution? Such corrupt judges should be sacked, but this is not done to avoid defaming the judiciary," writes the former judge, wrapping his blog with a comment that he can "give several more" instances of corruption.
Weeks ago, Justice Katju had uncovered a massive controversy when he alleged that a corrupt judge was allowed to continue in the Madras High Court due to pressure on then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by his Tamil Nadu ally DMK. Justice Katju also alleged that three former Chief Justices, including Justice Lahoti, had made "improper compromises" and bowed to political pressure.