MAKING JUDGES ACCOUNTABLE by Adv. Aires Rodrigues

The proposed Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill is a step in the right direction. Once this bill becomes law, judges of Supreme Court and high courts would have to declare their assets and liabilities within 30 days of taking oath. Judges would also have to declare assets and liabilities of their spouses and dependent children and further do so by July 31st each year.

The bill also stipulates that judges should not have close association with individual lawyers, particularly those who practice in the court in which he is a judge. Judges will also not be permitted to allow any member of his immediate family to appear before him. Judges will not hear a matter involving a member of his family, close relative or a friend. The bill prohibits a judge from engaging directly or indirectly in any trade or business. A judge will not be able to accept gifts or hospitality except from his relatives.

The intent of the bill is to lay down judicial standards and provide for accountability of judges. The bill also envisages a credible and expedient mechanism for investigating individual complaints against judges. While the bill deals only with the conduct of Supreme Court and High Court judges, there may have to be a way to monitor the District Court and other lower court judges. Why not make the whole judiciary accountable under the ambit of one law?