Justice Santosh Hegde backs SC on collegium

Mysuru: Reacting sharply to the ongoing tussle between the Central government and the Supreme Court over the collegium system to appoint judges, retired SC judge and former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde on Tuesday said it is completely wrong on part of the government to interfere in the affairs of the judiciary.
“I served in the institution, and I know how the system works,” Hegde said at the meet-the-press hosted by the Mysuru District Journalists’ Association.
“I want to ask who knows better about court affairs. Judges read judgments and know the temperament of judges through their decisions. What can anyone from outside do for its improvement without knowing how to hear cases?” he said.
He sought to know who appoints ministers. “Every agency has its own system of selection. I don’t think that there would be any improvement in the affairs by having a representative from outside. In my view, it is all an attempt by the government to interfere in the appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court and take the courts into their hands. It appears to be not in the best interest of society,” he said.
There will be five members in the collegium and only the CJI’s recommendation is not accepted. Everyone will have their say in the appointments, he said.
To a query about the recommendation of the collegium to appoint an activist as a Delhi high court judge, Hegde said the appointment is based on merit and capacity and not on personal matters.
Hegde said the judicial system is being tested as the number of cases is increasing because of speculative litigation. “Unlike the US, which has only two levels of the system, India has many levels. The number of appeals in a case must be restricted to two for speedy delivery,” he said, adding: “Today, the judiciary should realise the situation. Otherwise, in the coming days a parallel justice delivery system may come to the fore.”
Politicians play drama
“Today politicians are playing a drama and are not interested in taking issues to their logical end. They only make allegations while in opposition and forget the issue when in power. There were also efforts to shut down the institution of Lokayukta to cover-up their wrongs,” said Hegde.
“The level of corruption has reached its zenith and if it continues, people will revolt against the system and are likely to get divided based on caste and language. Today people are in a struggle to grab power and money and glorify those who have gone to jail by welcoming them in a grand manner. People and a section of public servants have become greedy, and it has become a disease,” Hegde said.
Briefing about major scams from the 50s including Bofors, Commonwealth Games, 2G and Coalgate, the 83-year-old Hegde said the huge money involved in the scams if used for the development of the nation would have been helped India.
Stating that the institutions are not wrong, but a section of the people are corrupt and greedy, Hegde suggested the public adopt two values in life – satisfaction and humanity — to lead an honest and respectful life.