Jaipur:
The Supreme Court's 'something rotten' remark on the Allahabad High Court, has had a serious fall out in Rajasthan. The state bar council now demands the transfer of nearly one third Judges of the Rajasthan High Court whose relatives are practising in the court.
The Bar Council claims that nine of the 22 judges in the High Court have their relatives practising and charges of Nepotism and Corruption leading to favourable verdicts are flying around in the state.
"The worry that the Supreme Court has shown for the Allahabad High Court is also relevant for the Rajasthan High Court. That's why we have passed a resolution that judges of our High Court whose relatives are practising here should be moved out of Rajasthan," said Navrang Singh Choudhary, the President of Bar Council of Rajasthan.
The Council has shot off letters to the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India asking for ''uncle judges'' to be transferred immediately.
"If a case is being heard in the court of one judge then the son of another judge is hired to fight the case. All kinds of manipulations are going on to hire the sons or relatives of judges. As a result, the reputation of the Rajasthan High Court is being damaged," said Justice PC Jain, retired judge, Rajasthan High Court.
Three months ago, lawyers in Rajasthan had alleging serious corruption in the recruitment of district judges in the state. They had even boycotted all work at the High Court for over a month.
In March this year, 18 district judges in Rajasthan were sacked on charges of corruption and incompetence.
Now as the Bar Council comes out strongly against judges and their relatives practising, the debate over corruption in the judiciary is set to escalate sharply and the question is, will these new clamours heave any results?