Congratulations for having the courage to publish the contents of the supplementary affidavit (Your Honour?, Oct 4). A free press rather than the judiciary, I believe, is the strongest pillar of Indian democracy. Every time I convince myself that Vinod Mehta (and therefore Outlook) is a Congress stooge, he surprises me. It’s an open secret that the high courts in the country are filled with corrupt judges, in a you-scratch-my-back-and-I-scratch-yours arrangement with politicians. But this is not to say that there aren’t judges of impeccable integrity, who have stood up for social equality and passed judgements upholding the Constitution. We have to ensure that the few rotten apples do not corrupt our entire judiciary.
Ashwin, Jersey City, US
During the high noon of judicial activism, a court in Delhi could make a central minister stand in the courtroom. Cut to now, when instances of the judiciary itself being compromised have cropped up. How the mighty have fallen!
Salim, Kannur
There are five lakh commercial establishments in Delhi, most standing in violation of an archaic Master Plan that never envisioned the commercial growth of the city on a par with Bombay. The callous sealing and demolition of some of these establishments by judicial fiat will remain one of the most shameful chapters of India’s development story.
Ashok Lal, Mumbai
Why are none of the judges defending themselves? Does their silence speak of guilt?
Mukhtar Ahmad, Aligarh
Why has Rajeev Dhawan been quoted as a former Supreme Court advocate when he is very much an active apex court advocate?
Mohan Taneja, on e-mail
The one consolation that the aam aadmi had so far has been proved an illusion, thanks to a legal luminary who’s shown the courage to submit an affidavit against tainted judges.
Ranjit Sinha, New Delhi
We need to recognise the moral corruption of legal eminences like Mr Shanti Bhushan. They only want to hog the limelight as the champions of civil liberties in an “uncivilised third-rate banana republic”. They have no qualms labelling the army and police as fascist and the judiciary as corrupt even as they defend extremists of every hue.
Sudharshan, Madras
The six black sheep with white collars on your cover well illustrated the paradox that plagues our judiciary today. It’s high time only people of integrity at the local, district, state and national level are appointed to administer justice to all.
George Olivera, Mysore
Corruption in judiciary is a well-known fact. The appointment of judges became the prerogative of the collegium in 1993, when the Narasimha Rao government at the Centre was weak. India is probably the only country where the judiciary itself appoints the judges!
Rajiv Chopra, Jammu
When even hardened criminals go unpunished in the country, how can one expect saints in the judiciary?
Navien K. Batta, Muscat
At least corrupt judges in the higher judiciary make news. The lower judiciary is run like a property office. The only way to improve our judiciary is to introduce an independent judicial commission and a system of reward and punishment like in other services.
Sudhir Panwar, Lucknow
