File photo: VS Achuthanandan
Voicing concern over allegations of corruption against some judges, Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) stalwart and Kerala Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan today said this was an ominous trend that would disgrace the sanctity and credibility of the judicial system and legal profession.
"An independent and impartial judiciary is inevitable for survival of democracy. But, corruption charges against judges would disgrace the sanctity of the entire judicial system.
Judges themselves should make efforts to ensure that this would not happen," Mr Achuthanandan said.
He was speaking after presenting the Pirappancode Sreedharan Nair Award, instituted by Kerala Lawyers' Club, to former Solicitor General and senior Supreme Court lawyer Gopal Subramaniam.
"It is essential in a democracy to make the trial and disposal of cases time-bound. The legal community comprising judges and lawyers should make efforts that all types of cases are disposed of in time," he said.
The 92-year-old leader hailed Justice Subramaniam for not succumbing to any kind of pressure and influence and bringing out the truth regarding the management of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple and its priceless treasures as amicus curiae in the case.
"Purity and integrity are the heart and soul of the Constitution. Constitutional empathy should be the must quality for legal practitioners. Ability to see the truth in what others said is essential for them. Without sacrifice we can not uphold the rule of law in a pluralistic society," he said.
Stating that insulating themselves from succumbing to pressure was the real test of legal practitioners, he said "values are eternal and individuals are completely
meaningless."