Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai said on Tuesday that incidents of corruption and misconduct can erode public faith in the judiciary. .He said that such instances have surfaced in the Indian judiciary, and the path to rebuilding trust in the system lies in swift, decisive and transparent action. “In India, when such instances have come to light, the Supreme Court has consistently taken immediate and appropriate measures to address the misconduct,” he said. .The comments come in the backdrop of reports that the Central government may initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, who has been accused of corruption. .CJI Gavai stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and said that while there may be criticisms of the Collegium system, the solution must not come at the cost of judicial independence. “Judges must be free from external control,” he underscored..The CJI was speaking at the UK Supreme Court on the topic of ‘Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence’. He also spoke against judges taking post-retirement jobs with the government or resigning from their posts to contest elections. “A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as a conflict of interest or as an attempt to gain favour with the government. The timing and nature of such post-retirement engagements could undermine the public’s trust in the judiciary’s integrity, as it could create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by the prospect of future government appointments or political involvement.”Therefore, to preserve the credibility and independence of the judiciary, he and many of his colleagues have pledged not to accept any post-retirement roles or positions from the government, he added..Justice AS Oka and I have decided not to accept post-retirement jobs: CJI BR Gavai
