Judicial response to corruption

The order of Justice L Narasimha Reddy in reacting to allegations of corruption against the Home Minister and Excise Minister will not only raise a few eyebrows but should also be reassuring to citizens who are still largely sceptical about corruption in political circuits. Dr. Shanker Rao is turning out to be Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Dennis the Menace. Even to those who may be hesitant to give the Textile Minister the benefit of doubt, it must be said that he has surely made corruption an issue within the Cong camp. At first blush this may sound like a contradiction in terms but the task has nevertheless proved effective and hopefully will lead to more truths.

Legal and political pundits may debate the propriety and correctness of Justice Narasimha Reddy’s order. The present exercise is an intended salute to a man (read judge) who has his priorities right. Not for him contrived legalese, nor abstract constitutionalism. He has always looked at dockets as sagas of human suffering. He came to the bench with unhidden political background. Yet that never coloured his approach to law. When he rushed up the floors of the High Court on the day of the ghastly fire accident, he sent a clear message of his commitment to the judicial system and his anxiety to save it from all accidents. He has his heart where is mouth is and has an unfamiliar knack to deal with legal issues in the context of human problems.

At a time when judges scorn the media it is wonderful to see the judge give its credence.

To the uninitiated early chapters of public interest litigation have examples of judges reacting sharply to news items and adjudicating on exposures from the media. It is wonderful to see Justice Reddy remind the citizenary about how an active judicial can help cleanse the system. To many in the country the judiciary is the last sentinel of hope. To those who know the system from within Justice Reddy is an important torch bearer.

It is just recently that a division bench dealt with issues of corruption. Hopefully Justice Reddy’s order will get the powers to be into a cleansing act. Naive it may seem but to us hope is the only medicine left.

More than the allegations and even more than the credibility crisis (?) of the Home Minister the issue hopefully marks the beginning of a judicial chapter of judges willing to take on social issues economic problems and getting the executive to account independent of the citizen having to play the whistle blower.

In the context of Anna Hazare, the Lokpal Bill and the increasing tenancy at Tihar jail this order of the High Court is an added dimension. As one welcomes Justice Narasimha Reddy to the party, one hopes that his act will be inspirational. I believe the man is hopefully this act to will be.