'Corruption in the judiciary is a virus that is spreading': Prashant Bhushan

In the wake of the alleged recovery of bundles of currency notes in a fire at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence, senior advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan speaks to Frontline on the growing crisis of judicial accountability in India. The incident has reignited debates on judicial appointments, corruption, and the limits of existing oversight mechanisms.

Context:
Following Justice Varma’s transfer and the initiation of an in-house inquiry by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, questions are once again being raised about how effectively the judiciary can hold its own accountable. The controversy has also brought the collegium system back into the spotlight, with some in the ruling establishment reviving support for the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015.

Highlights:
• The Justice Yashwant Varma episode and its implications for judicial integrity
• Why impeachment is a weak and politicised process for dealing with corrupt judges
• The rarity of in-house inquiries and why that must change
• Bhushan’s proposal for an independent Judicial Complaints Commission
• Critique of the collegium system and the case for a transparent, independent Judicial Appointments Commission
• Why giving the government a greater role in judge selection threatens judicial independence

Perfect for:
• Law and public policy students
• Advocates of judicial transparency and reform
• Journalists and political commentators

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#judicialaccountability #justicesystem #ruleoflaw #judicialcorruption #justiceyashwantvarma

Credits:
Interview by Soni Mishra
Camera by Dipesh Arora
Editing by Razal Pareed
Team Frontline: Vitasta Kaul, Vedaant Lakhera
Produced by Kavya Pradeep M

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