As India has been voicing out its frustrations over the Legislature and the Executive, the judiciary seems to be caught in its own melodrama. It is as if the fate of Chief Justice of India has gone dark in the last few terms. The people in the recent past who held the chair, have been linked to controversies and allegations of sorts. From sexual harassment to political gifts, all who hold the seat of Judiciary have been mired in some allegation or the other.

The dark days began with the tenure of CJI Dipak Misra, whose chief justiceship was lined up by controversies. Misra was caught making false declarations, to secure a land allotment case, while he was a lawyer in Odisha. Following the path set by CJI Misra, he was succeeded by Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Notably, Gogoi shot to fame when along with his three colleagues, he staged a ‘mutiny’ summoning a ‘call of national duty’ press conference against the functioning of the apex court. Soon after assuming office, a 35-year-old female staff complained about sexual harassment against Gogoi. Ironically, the man who criticised Misra for ‘bench cutting’, Gogoi himself constituted a bench headed by himself to hear a case where he himself was an accused. Additionally, some critics did also point out the question of ‘judicial integrity’ in many of his verdicts. Succeeding Gogoi, came Justice SA Bobde, who is now approaching his last day in office. Bobde has his own share of controversies. Bobde has been alleged of being close to political leaders and often seen accepting political favours. In one such case, he was alleged to have accepted the hospitality of Madhya Pradesh state government by using a special chopper provided it to visit the Kanha National Park and from there to his home in Nagpur. In another, his picture, where he is seen riding a bike without a helmet, went viral in social media. Bobde later clarified that he did not know the owner, who happened to be the son of a local BJP leader and that the bike was parked. Bobde also dismissed a complaint filed by Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, even before the findings of the enquiry was revealed. Notably, Andhra Pradesh CM had complained against Ramana favouring Telugu Desam Party and influencing judges at Andhra Pradesh High Court. Interestingly, Ramana is set to succeed Bobde as the CJI.

For whatever reasons it seems that the judiciary and controversies is a couple who are here to stay, at least as of now. The judiciary plays a very important role in a democracy. All the more important in India, for it being the world’s largest democracy. But with the trend of controversies following and surrounding the CJI, the integrity of a pure and unbiased institution is at stake.