PIL - Code of Conduct for Judges & Police
S.O.S e
- Clarion Of Dalit - Weekly Newspaper On Web
Working For The Rights
& Survival Of The Oppressed
Editor:
NAGARAJA.M.R… VOL.10 issue.41…… .19
/ 10 / 2016
Editorial : Urgent Need
of CODE OF CONDUCT FOR POLICE
& JUDGES IN INDIA
The public servants &
the government must be role models in law abiding acts , for others to emulate
& follow. if a student makes a mistake it is excusable & can be
corrected by the teacher. if the teacher himself makes a mistake , all
his students will do the same mistake. if a thief steals , he can be
caught , legally punished & reformed . if a police himself commits
crime , many thieves go scot-free under his patronage. even if a police ,
public servant commits a crime , he can be legally prosecuted & justice can
be sought by the aggrieved. just think , if a judge himself that too
of apex court of the land himself commits crime - violations
of RTI Act , constitutional rights & human rights of public and
obstructs the public from performing their constitutional fundamental duties ,
what happens ?
it gives a booster dose to the
rich & mighty , those in power , criminals in public service to commit more
crimes. that is exactly what is happening in india. the educated public must
raise to the occasion & peacefully , democratically must oppose this
criminalization of judiciary , public service. then alone , we can build a RAM
RAJYA OF MAHATMA GANDHI'S DREAM.
Day after day we are
seeing allegations against judges and police in crimes against women ,
sex crimes , judicial orders for money , etc in the media. There is total secrecy in
the functioning of judiciary in india with regards to disciplinary
proceedings , promotions and selection of judges. We the public
don’t know whether proper investigation / enquiry is done in such cases of
allegations against judges & police , what action taken against the guilty judges
& police ?
Read few
actual cases of crimes by judges at following web pages ;
Half of former CJIs Corrupt :
Atrocities on Women by JUDGES
A – Z of Manipulation of Indian Legal
System
Justice Sathasivam - Are you DEAF DUMB
& BLIND
JUDGEs or Brokers of Justice
RTI & Land Golmaal
Why NOT 3rd degree Torture of Corrupt
Doctors , Police & Judges
Hereby , we demand
code of conduct for judges and police with provision of criminal
prosecution of violators.
Regard for the public welfare is the
highest law (SALUS POPULI EST SUPREMA LEX).
No man shall be condemned unheard
(AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM).
No man can be judge in his own cause
(NEMO DEBET ESSE JUDEX IN PROPRIA SUA CAUSA).
An act of the Court shall
prejudice no man (ACTUS CURIAE NEMINEM GRAVABIT).
Your’s
Nagaraja Mysuru Raghupathi
PIL
- CODE OF CONDUCT FOR
JUDGES & POLICE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ORIGINAL
JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION
NO. OF 2016
IN THE MATTER OF
NAGARAJA . M.R
editor , SOS e Clarion of Dalit
& SOS e Voice for Justice
# LIG 2 , No 761 ,, HUDCO First Stage ,
Laxmikantanagar ,
Hebbal , Mysore – 570017 , Karnataka
State
....Petitioner
Versus
1. Chief Justice of India
2. Union Home Secretary , GOI
3. Union Law & Justice Secretary , GOI
4. Chief Secretaries of all states & UTs
....Respondents
PETITION UNDER ARTICLE 12 to ARTICLE 35
& ARTICLE 51A OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA FOR ISSUANCE OF A WRIT IN THE
NATURE OF MANDAMUS UNDER ARTICLE 32 & ARTICLE 226 and other
relevant acts OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA.
To ,
Hon'ble The Chief Justice of India and
His Lordship's Companion Justices of the Supreme Court of India.
The Humble petition of the
Petitioner above named.
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH :
1. Facts
of the case:
The public servants
& the government must be role models in law abiding acts , for others ,
public to emulate & follow. if a student makes a mistake it is
excusable & can be corrected by the teacher. if the teacher himself makes a
mistake , all his students will do the same mistake. if a thief steals ,
he can be caught , legally punished & reformed . if a police himself
commits crime , many thieves go scot-free under his patronage. even if a
police , public servant commits a crime , he can be legally prosecuted &
justice can be sought by the aggrieved. just think , if a judge himself
that too of apex court of the land himself commits crime -
violations of RTI Act , constitutional rights & human rights of
public and obstructs the public from performing their constitutional
fundamental duties , what happens ?
it gives a booster dose to the
rich & mighty , those in power , criminals in public service to commit more
crimes. that is exactly what is happening in india. the educated public must
raise to the occasion & peacefully , democratically must oppose this
criminalization of judiciary , public service. then alone , we can build a RAM
RAJYA OF MAHATMA GANDHI'S DREAM.
Day after day
we are seeing allegations against judges and police in crimes against
women , sex crimes , judicial orders for money , etc in the media. There is total secrecy in
the functioning of judiciary in india with regards to disciplinary
proceedings , promotions and selection of judges. We the public
don’t know whether proper investigation / enquiry is done in such cases of
allegations against judges & police
, what action taken against the guilty judges & police ?
Read few
actual cases of crimes by judges at following web pages ;
Half of former CJIs Corrupt :
Atrocities on Women by JUDGES
A – Z of Manipulation of Indian Legal
System
Justice Sathasivam - Are you DEAF DUMB
& BLIND
JUDGEs or Brokers of Justice
RTI & Land Golmaal
Why NOT 3rd degree Torture of Corrupt
Doctors , Police & Judges
Hereby , we demand
code of conduct for judges and police
with provision of criminal prosecution of violators.
Regard for the public welfare is the
highest law (SALUS POPULI EST SUPREMA LEX).
No man shall be condemned unheard
(AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM).
No man can be judge in his own cause
(NEMO DEBET ESSE JUDEX IN PROPRIA SUA CAUSA).
An act of the Court shall
prejudice no man (ACTUS CURIAE NEMINEM GRAVABIT).
2. Question(s) of Law:
Are JUDGES & POLICE above law ?
3. Grounds:
Requests for equitable justice and
legal prosecution of guilty judges, police to uphold rule of law in india.
I wish to state you humbly that the
United States Courts have framed the following rules for judges:-
CANON 1: A JUDGE SHOULD UPHOLD THE
INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
An independent and honorable
judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should maintain
and enforce high standards of conduct and should personally observe those
standards, so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be
preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to
further that objective.
COMMENTARY
Deference to the judgments and
rulings of courts depends on public confidence in the integrity and
independence of judges. The integrity and independence of judges depend in turn
on their acting without fear or favor. Although judges should be independent,
they must comply with the law and should comply with this Code.
Adherence to this responsibility
helps to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.
Conversely, violation of this Code diminishes public confidence in the
judiciary and injures our system of government under law.
CANON 2: A JUDGE SHOULD AVOID
IMPROPRIETY AND THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY IN ALL ACTIVITIES
A. Respect for Law. A judge should
respect and comply with the law and should act at all times in a manner that
promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
B. Outside Influence. A judge should
not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to
influence judicial conduct or judgment. A judge should neither lend the
prestige of the judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge
or others nor convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in
a special position to influence the judge. A judge should not testify
voluntarily as a character witness.
C. Nondiscriminatory Membership. A
judge should not hold membership in any organization that practices invidious
discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin.
COMMENTARY
Canon 2A. An appearance of
impropriety occurs when reasonable minds, with knowledge of all the relevant
circumstances disclosed by a reasonable inquiry, would conclude that the
judge’s honesty, integrity, impartiality, temperament, or fitness toserve as a
judge is impaired. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by
irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety
and appearance of impropriety. This prohibition applies to both professional
and personal conduct. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public
scrutiny and accept freely and willingly restrictions that might be viewed as
burdensome by the ordinary citizen. Because it is not practicable to list all
prohibited acts, the prohibition is necessarily cast in general terms that
extend to conduct by judges that is harmful although not specifically mentioned
in the Code. Actual improprieties under this standard include violations of
law, court rules, or other specific provisions of this Code.
Canon 2B. Testimony as a character
witness injects the prestige of the judicial office into the proceeding in
which the judge testifies and may be perceived as an official testimonial. A
judge should discourage a party from requiring the judge to testify as a
character witness except in unusual circumstances when the demands of justice
require. This Canon does not create a privilege against testifying in response
to an official summons.
A judge should avoid lending the
prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or
others. For example, a judge should not use the judge’s judicial position or
title to gain advantage in litigation involving a friend or a member of the
judge’s family. In contracts for publication of a judge’s writings, a judge
should retain control over the advertising to avoid exploitation of the judge’s
office.
A judge should be sensitive to
possible abuse of the prestige of office. A judge should not initiate
communications to a sentencing judge or a probation or corrections officer but
may provide information to such persons in response to a formal request. Judges
may participate in the process of judicial selection by cooperating with
appointing authorities and screening committees seeking names for consideration
and by responding to official inquiries concerning a person being considered
for a judgeship.
Canon 2C. Membership of a judge in an
organization that practices invidious discrimination gives rise to perceptions
that the judge’s impartiality is impaired. Canon 2C refers to the current
practices of the organization. Whether an organization practices invidious
discrimination is often a complex question to which judges should be sensitive.
The answer cannot be determined from a mere examination of an organization’s
current membership rolls but rather depends on how the organization selects
members and other relevant factors, such as that the organization is dedicated
to the preservation of religious, ethnic or cultural values of legitimate
common interest to its members, or that it is in fact and effect an intimate,
purely private organization whose membership limitations could not be
constitutionally prohibited.
CANON 3: A JUDGE SHOULD PERFORM THE
DUTIES OF THE OFFICE FAIRLY, IMPARTIALLY AND DILIGENTLY
The duties of judicial office take
precedence over all other activities. In performing the duties prescribed by
law, the judge should adhere to the following standards:
.A Adjudicative Responsibilities.
(1) A judge should be faithful to,
and maintain professional competence in, the law and should not be swayed by
partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism.
(2) A judge should hear and decide
matters assigned, unless disqualified, and should maintain order and decorum in
all judicial proceedings.
(3)A judge should be patient,
dignified, respectful, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers,
and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity. A judge should
require similar conduct of those subject to the judge’s control, including
lawyers to the extent consistent with their role in the adversary process.
(4) A judge should accord to every
person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, and that person’s lawyer, the
full right to be heard according to law. Except as set out below, a judge
should not initiate, permit, or consider ex parte communications or consider
other communications concerning a pending or impending matter that are made
outside the presence of the parties or their lawyers. If a judge receives an
unauthorized ex parte communication bearing on the substance of a matter, the
judge should promptly notify the parties of the subject matter of the
communication and allow the parties an opportunity to respond, if requested. A
judge may:
(a) initiate, permit, or consider ex
parte communications as authorized by law;
(b) when circumstances require it,
permit ex parte communication for scheduling, administrative, or emergency
purposes, but only if the ex parte communication does not address substantive
matters and the judge reasonably believes that no party will gain a procedural,
substantive, or tactical advantage as a result of the ex parte communication;
(c) obtain the written advice of a
disinterested expert on the law, but only after giving advance notice to the
parties of the person to be consulted and the subject matter of the advice and
affording the parties reasonable opportunity to object and respond to the
notice and to the advice received; or
(d) with the consent of the parties,
confer separately with the parties and their counsel in an effort to mediate or
settle pending matters.
(5) A judge should dispose promptly
of the business of the court.
(6) A judge should not make public
comment on the merits of a matter pending or impending in any court. A judge
should require similar restraint by court personnel subject to the judge’s
direction and control. The prohibition on public comment on the merits does not
extend to public statements made in the course of the judge’s official duties,
to explanations of court procedures, or to scholarly presentations made for
purposes of legal education.
Administrative Responsibilities. (1)
A judge should diligently discharge administrative responsibilities, maintain
professional competence in judicial administration, and facilitate the
performance of the administrative responsibilities of other judges and court
personnel.
(2) A judge should not direct court
personnel to engage in conduct on the judge’s behalf or as the judge’s
representative when that conduct would contravene the Code if undertaken by the
judge. (3) A judge should exercise the power of appointment fairly and only on
the basis of merit, avoiding unnecessary appointments, nepotism, and
favoritism. A judge should not approve compensation of appointees beyond the
fair value of services rendered.
(4) A judge with supervisory
authority over other judges should take reasonable measures to ensure that they
perform their duties timely and effectively.
(5) A judge should take appropriate
action upon learning of reliable evidence indicating the likelihood that a
judge’s conduct contravened this Code or a lawyer violated applicable rules of
professional conduct.
Disqualification. (1) A judge shall
disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality
might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to instances in
which:
(a) the judge has a personal bias or
prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary
facts concerning the proceeding;
(b) the judge served as a lawyer in
the matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom the judge previously practiced
law served during such association as a lawyer concerning the matter, or the
judge or lawyer has been a material witness;
(c) the judge knows that the judge,
individually or as a fiduciary, or the judge’s spouse or minor child residing
in the judge’s household, has a financial interest in the subject matter in
controversy or in a party to the
proceeding, or any other interest that could be affected substantially by the
outcome of the proceeding;
(d) the judge or the judge’s spouse,
or a person related to either within the third degree of relationship, or the
spouse of such a person is:
(i) a party to the proceeding, or an
officer, director, or trustee of a party;
(ii) acting as a lawyer in the
proceeding;
(iii) known by the judge to have an
interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding;
or
(iv) to the judge’s knowledge likely
to be a material witness in the proceeding;
(e) the judge has served in
governmental employment and in that capacity participated as a judge (in a
previous judicial position), counsel, advisor, or material witness concerning
the proceeding or has expressed an opinion concerning the merits of the
particular case in controversy.
(2) A judge should keep informed
about the judge’s personal and fiduciary financial interests and make a
reasonable effort to keep informed about the personal financial interests of
the judge’s spouse and minor children residing in the judge’s household.
(3) or the purposes of this section:
(a) the degree of relationship is
calculated according to the civil law system; the following relatives are
within the third degree of relationship: parent, child, grandparent,
grandchild, great grandparent, great grandchild, sister, brother, aunt, uncle,
niece, and nephew; the listed relatives include whole and half blood relatives
and most step relatives;
(b) “fiduciary” includes such
relationships as executor, administrator, trustee, and guardian;
(c) “financial interest” means
ownership of a legal or equitable interest, however small, or a relationship as
director, advisor, or other active participant in the affairs of a party,
except that:
ownership in a mutual or common
investment fund that holds securities is not a “financial interest” in such
securities unless the judge participates in the management of the fund;
(ii) an office in an educational,
religious, charitable, fraternal, or civic organization is not a “financial
interest” in securities held by the organization;
(iii) the proprietary interest of a
policyholder in a mutual insurance company, or a depositor in a mutual savings
association, or a similar proprietary interest, is a “financial interest” in
the organization only if the outcome of the proceeding could substantially
affect the value of the interest;
(iv) ownership of government
securities is a “financial interest” in the issuer only if the outcome of the
proceeding could substantially affect the value of the securities;
(d) “proceeding” includes pretrial,
trial, appellate review, or other stages of litigation.
(4) Notwithstanding the preceding
provisions of this Canon, if a judge would be disqualified because of a
financial interest in a party (other than an interest that could be
substantially affected by the outcome), disqualification is not required if the
judge (or the judge’s spouse or minor child) divests the interest that provides
the grounds for disqualification.
.D
Remittal of Disqualification. Instead
of withdrawing from the proceeding, a judge disqualified by Canon 3C(1) may,
except in the circumstances specifically set out in subsections (a) through
(e), disclose on the record the basis of disqualification. The judge may
participate in the proceeding if, after that disclosure, the parties and their
lawyers have an opportunity to confer outside the presence of the judge, all
agree in writing or on the record that the judge should not be disqualified,
and the judge is then willing to participate. The agreement should be
incorporated in the record of the proceeding.
COMMENTARY
Canon 3A(3). The duty to hear all
proceedings fairly and with patience is not inconsistent with the duty to
dispose promptly of the business of the court. Courts can be efficient and
businesslike while being patient and deliberate.
The duty under Canon 2 to act in a
manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the
judiciary applies to all the judge’s activities, including the discharge of the
judge’s adjudicative and administrative responsibilities. The duty to be
respectful includes the responsibility to avoid comment or behavior that could
reasonably be interpreted as harassment, prejudice or bias.
Canon 3A(4). The restriction on ex
parte communications concerning a proceeding includes communications from
lawyers, law teachers, and others who are not participants in the proceeding. A
judge may consult with other judges or with court personnel whose function is
to aid the judge in carrying out adjudicative responsibilities. A judge should
make reasonable efforts to ensure that law clerks and other court personnel
comply with this provision.
A judge may encourage and seek to
facilitate settlement but should not act in a manner that coerces any party
into surrendering the right to have the controversy resolved by the courts.
Canon 3A(5). In disposing of matters
promptly, efficiently, and fairly, a judge must demonstrate due regard for the
rights of the parties to be heard and to have issues resolved without
unnecessary cost or delay. A judge should monitor and supervise cases to reduce
or eliminate dilatory practices, avoidable delays, and unnecessary costs.
Prompt disposition of the court’s
business requires a judge to devote adequate time to judicial duties, to be
punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters under
submission, and to take reasonable measures to ensure that court personnel,
litigants, and their lawyers cooperate with the judge to that end.
Canon 3A(6). The admonition against
public comment about the merits of a pending or impending matter continues
until the appellate process is complete. If the public comment involves a case
from the judge’s own court, the judge should take particular care so that the
comment does not denigrate public confidence in the judiciary’s integrity and
impartiality, which would violate Canon 2A. A judge may comment publicly on
proceedings in which the judge is a litigant in a personal capacity, but not on
mandamus proceedings when the judge is a litigant in an official capacity (but
the judge may respond in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 21(b)).
Canon 3B(3). A judge’s appointees
include assigned counsel, officials such as referees, commissioners, special
masters, receivers, guardians, and personnel such as law clerks, secretaries,
and judicial assistants. Consent by the parties to an appointment or an award
of compensation does not relieve the judge of the obligation prescribed by this
subsection.
Canon 3B(5). Appropriate action may
include direct communication with the judge or lawyer, other direct action if
available, reporting the conduct to the appropriate authorities, or, when the
judge believes that a judge’s or lawyer’s conduct is caused by drugs, alcohol,
or a medical condition, making a confidential referral to an assistance
program. Appropriate action may also include responding to a subpoena to
testify or otherwise participating in judicial or lawyer disciplinary
proceedings; a judge should be candid and honest with disciplinary authorities.
Canon 3C. Recusal considerations
applicable to a judge’s spouse should also be considered with respect to a
person other than a spouse with whom the judge maintains both a household and
an intimate relationship.
Canon 3C(1)(c). In a criminal
proceeding, a victim entitled to restitution is not, within the meaning of this
Canon, a party to the proceeding or the subject matter in controversy. A judge
who has a financial interest in the victim of a crime is not required by Canon
3C(1)(c) to disqualify from the criminal proceeding, but the judge must do so
if the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned under Canon 3C(1) or
if the judge has an interest that could be substantially affected by the
outcome of the proceeding under Canon 3C(1)(d)(iii).
Canon 3C(1)(d)(ii). The fact that a
lawyer in a proceeding is affiliated with a law firm with which a relative of
the judge is affiliated does not of itself disqualify the judge. However, if
“the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned” under Canon 3C(1), or
the relative is known by the judge to have an interest in the law firm that
could be “substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding” under Canon
3C(1)(d)(iii), the judge’s disqualification is required.
CANON 4: A JUDGE MAY ENGAGE IN
EXTRAJUDICIAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE OBLIGATIONS OF JUDICIAL
OFFICE
A judge may engage in extrajudicial
activities, including law-related pursuits and civic, charitable, educational,
religious, social, financial, fiduciary, and governmental activities, and may
speak, write, lecture, and teach on both law-related and nonlegal subjects.
However, a judge should not participate in extrajudicial activities that
detract from the dignity of the judge’s office, interfere with the performance
of the judge’s official duties, reflect adversely on the judge’s impartiality,
lead to frequent disqualification, or violate the limitations set forth below.
.A Law-related Activities.
(1) Speaking, Writing, and Teaching.
A judge may speak, write, lecture, teach, and participate in other activities
concerning the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice.
(2) Consultation. A judge may consult
with or appear at a public hearing before an executive or legislative body or
official:
on matters concerning the law, the
legal system, or the administration of justice;
(b) to the extent that it would
generally be perceived that a judge’s judicial experience provides special
expertise in the area; or
(c) when the judge is acting pro se
in a matter involving the judge or the judge’s interest.
(3) Organizations. A judge may
participate in and serve as a member, officer, director, trustee, or nonlegal
advisor of a nonprofit organization devoted to the law, the legal system, or
the administration of justice and may assist such an organization in the
management and investment of funds. A judge may make recommendations to public
and private fund-granting agencies about projects and programs concerning the
law, the legal system, and the administration of justice.
(4) Arbitration and Mediation. A
judge should not act as an arbitrator or mediator or otherwise perform judicial
functions apart from the judge’s official duties unless expressly authorized by
law.
(5) Practice of Law. A judge should
not practice law and should not serve as a family member’s lawyer in any forum.
A judge may, however, act pro se and may, without compensation, give legal
advice to and draft or review documents for a member of the judge’s family.
.B Civic and Charitable Activities. A
judge may participate in and serve as an officer, director, trustee, or
nonlegal advisor of a nonprofit civic, charitable, educational, religious, or
social organization, subject to the following limitations:
(1) A judge should not serve if it is
likely that the organization will either be engaged in proceedings that would
ordinarily come before the judge or be regularly engaged in adversary
proceedings in any court.
(2) A judge should not give
investment advice to such an organization but may serve on its board of
directors or trustees even though it has the responsibility for approving
investment decisions.
.C Fund Raising. A judge may assist
nonprofit law-related, civic, charitable, educational, religious, or social
organizations in planning fund-raising activities and may be listed as an
officer, director, or trustee. A judge may solicit funds for such an
organization from judges over whom the judge does not exercise supervisory or
appellate authority and from members of the judge’s family. Otherwise, a judge
should not personally participate in fund-raising activities, solicit funds for
any organization, or use or permit the use of the prestige of judicial office
for that purpose. A judge should not personally participate in membership
solicitation if the solicitation might reasonably be perceived as coercive or
is essentially a fund-raising mechanism.
Financial Activities.
(1) A judge may hold and manage
investments, including real estate, and engage in other remunerative activity,
but should refrain from financial and business dealings that exploit the
judicial position or involve the judge in frequent transactions or continuing
business relationships with lawyers or other persons likely to come before the
court on which the judge serves.
(2) A judge may serve as an officer,
director, active partner, manager, advisor, or employee of a business only if
the business is closely held and controlled by members of the judge’s family.
For this purpose, “members of the judge’s family” means persons related to the
judge or the judge’s spouse within the third degree of relationship as defined
in Canon 3C(3)(a), any other relative with whom the judge or the judge’s spouse
maintains a close familial relationship, and the spouse of any of the
foregoing.
(3) As soon as the judge can do so
without serious financial detriment, the judge should divest investments and
other financial interests that might require frequent disqualification.
(4) A judge should comply with the
restrictions on acceptance of gifts and the prohibition on solicitation of
gifts set forth in the Judicial Conference Gift Regulations. A judge should
endeavor to prevent any member of the judge’s family residing in the household
from soliciting or accepting a gift except to the extent that a judge would be
permitted to do so by the Judicial Conference Gift Regulations. A “member of
the judge’s family” means any relative of a judge by blood, adoption, or
marriage, or any person treated by a judge as a member of the judge’s family.
(5) A judge should not disclose or
use nonpublic information acquired in a judicial capacity for any purpose
unrelated to the judge’s official duties.
.E Fiduciary Activities. A judge may
serve as the executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or other fiduciary
only for the estate, trust, or person of a member of the judge’s family as
defined in Canon 4D(4). As a family fiduciary a judge is subject to the
following restrictions:
(1) The judge should not serve if it
is likely that as a fiduciary the judge would be engaged in proceedings that
would ordinarily come before the judge or if the estate, trust, or ward becomes
involved in adversary proceedings in the court on which the judge serves or one
under its appellate jurisdiction.
(2) While acting as a fiduciary, a
judge is subject to the same restrictions on financial activities that apply to
the judge in a personal capacity.
F. Governmental Appointments. A judge
may accept appointment to a governmental committee, commission, or other
position only if it is one that concerns the law, the legal system, or the
administration of justice, or if appointment of a judge is required by federal
statute. A judge should not, in any event, accept such an appointment if the
judge’s governmental duties would tend to undermine the public confidence in
the integrity, impartiality, or independence of the judiciary. A judge may
represent the judge’s country, state, or locality on ceremonial occasions or in
connection with historical, educational, and cultural activities.
G. Chambers, Resources, and Staff. A
judge should not to any substantial degree use judicial chambers, resources, or
staff to engage in extrajudicial activities permitted by this Canon.
H. Compensation, Reimbursement, and
Financial Reporting. A judge may accept compensation and reimbursement of
expenses for the law-related and extrajudicial activities permitted by this
Code if the source of the payments does not give the appearance of influencing
the judge in the judge’s judicial duties or otherwise give the appearance of
impropriety, subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Compensation should not exceed a
reasonable amount nor should it exceed what a person who is not a judge would
receive for the same activity.
(2) Expense reimbursement should be limited
to the actual costs of travel, food, and lodging reasonably incurred by the
judge and, where appropriate to the occasion, by the judge’s spouse or
relative. Any additional payment is compensation.
(3) A judge should make required
financial disclosures, including disclosures of gifts and other things of
value, in compliance with applicable statutes and Judicial Conference
regulations and directives.
COMMENTARY
Canon 4. Complete separation of a
judge from extrajudicial activities is neither possible nor wise; a judge
should not become isolated from the society in which the judge lives. As a
judicial officer and a person specially learned in the law, a judge is in a
unique position to contribute to the law, the legal system, and the
administration of justice, including revising substantive and procedural law
and improving criminal and juvenile justice. To the extent that the judge’s
time permits and impartiality is not compromised, the judge is encouraged to do
so, either independently or through a bar association, judicial conference, or
other organization dedicated to the law. Subject to the same limitations,
judges may also engage in a wide range of non-law-related activities.
Within the boundaries of applicable
law (see, e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 953) a judge may express opposition to the
persecution of lawyers and judges anywhere in the world if the judge has
ascertained, after reasonable inquiry, that the persecution is occasioned by
conflict between the professional responsibilities of the persecuted judge or
lawyer and the policies or practices of the relevant government.
A person other than a spouse with
whom the judge maintains both a household and an intimate relationship should
be considered a member of the judge’s family for purposes of legal assistance
under Canon 4A(5), fund raising under Canon 4C, and family business activities
under Canon 4D(2).
Canon 4A. Teaching and serving on the
board of a law school are permissible, but in the case of a for-profit law
school, board service is limited to a nongoverning advisory board.
Consistent with this Canon, a judge
may encourage lawyers to provide pro bono legal services.
Canon 4A(4). This Canon generally
prohibits a judge from mediating a state court matter, except in unusual
circumstances (e.g., when a judge is mediating a federal matter that cannot be
resolved effectively without addressing the related state court matter).
Canon 4A(5). A judge may act pro se
in all legal matters, including matters involving litigation and matters
involving appearances before or other dealings with governmental bodies. In so
doing, a judge must not abuse the prestige of office to advance the interests
of the judge or the judge’s family.
Canon 4B. The changing nature of some
organizations and their exposure to litigation make it necessary for a judge
regularly to reexamine the activities of each organization with which the judge
is affiliated to determine if the judge’s continued association is appropriate.
For example, in many jurisdictions, charitable hospitals are in court more
often now than in the past.
Canon 4C. A judge may attend
fund-raising events of law-related and other organizations although the judge
may not be a speaker, a guest of honor, or featured on the program of such an
event. Use of a judge’s name, position in the organization, and judicial designation
on an organization’s letterhead, including when used for fund raising or
soliciting members, does not violate Canon 4C if comparable information and
designations are listed for others.
Canon 4D(1), (2), and (3). Canon 3
requires disqualification of a judge in any proceeding in which the judge has a
financial interest, however small. Canon 4D requires a judge to refrain from
engaging in business and from financial activities that might interfere with
the impartial performance of the judge’s judicial duties. Canon 4H requires a
judge to report compensation received for activities outside the judicial
office. A judge has the rights of an ordinary citizen with respect to financial
affairs, except for limitations required to safeguard the proper performance of
the judge’s duties. A judge’s participation in a closely held family business,
while generally permissible, may be prohibited if it takes too much time or
involves misuse of judicial prestige or if the business is likely to come
before the court on which the judge serves. Owning and receiving income from
investments do not as such affect the performance of a judge’s duties.
Canon 4D(5). The restriction on using
nonpublic information is not intended to affect a judge’s ability to act on
information as necessary to protect the health or safety of the judge or a
member of a judge’s family, court personnel, or other judicial officers if
consistent with other provisions of this Code.
Canon 4E. Mere residence in the
judge’s household does not by itself make a person a member of the judge’s
family for purposes of this Canon. The person must be treated by the judge as a
member of the judge’s family.
The Applicable Date of Compliance
provision of this Code addresses continued service as a fiduciary.
A judge’s obligation under this Code
and the judge’s obligation as a fiduciary may come into conflict. For example,
a judge should resign as a trustee if it would result in detriment to the trust
to divest holdings whose retention would require frequent disqualification of
the judge in violation of Canon 4D(3).
Canon 4F. The appropriateness of
accepting extrajudicial assignments must be assessed in light of the demands on
judicial resources and the need to protect the courts from involvement in
matters that may prove to be controversial. Judges should not accept
governmental appointments that could interfere with the effectiveness and
independence of the judiciary, interfere with the performance of the judge’s
judicial responsibilities, or tend to undermine public confidence in the
judiciary.
Canon 4H. A judge is not required by
this Code to disclose income, debts, or investments, except as provided in this
Canon. The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and implementing regulations promulgated
by the Judicial Conference impose additional restrictions on judges’ receipt of
compensation. That Act and those regulations should be consulted before a judge
enters into any arrangement involving the receipt of compensation. The
restrictions so imposed include but are not limited to: (1) a prohibition
against receiving “honoraria” (defined as anything of value received for a
speech, appearance, or article), (2) a prohibition against receiving
compensation for service as a director, trustee, or officer of a profit or
nonprofit organization, (3) a requirement that compensated teaching activities
receive prior approval, and (4) a limitation on the receipt of “outside earned
income.”
CANON 5: A JUDGE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
A. General Prohibitions. A judge
should not:
(1) act as a leader or hold any
office in a political organization;
(2) make speeches for a political
organization or candidate, or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public
office; or
(3) solicit funds for, pay an
assessment to, or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate,
or attend or purchase a ticket for a dinner or other event sponsored by a
political organization or candidate.
B. Resignation upon Candidacy. A
judge should resign the judicial office if the judge becomes a candidate in a
primary or general election for any office.
C. Other Political Activity. A judge
should not engage in any other political activity. This provision does not
prevent a judge from engaging in activities described in Canon 4.
COMMENTARY
The term “political organization”
refers to a political party, a group affiliated with a political party or
candidate for public office, or an entity whose principal purpose is to
advocate for or against political candidates or parties in connection with
elections for public office.
Compliance with the Code of Conduct
Anyone who is an officer of the
federal judicial system authorized to perform judicial functions is a judge for
the purpose of this Code. All judges should comply with this Code except as
provided below.
Part-time Judge
A part-time judge is a judge who
serves part-time, whether continuously or periodically, but is permitted by law
to devote time to some other profession or occupation and whose compensation
for that reason is less than that of a full-time judge. A part-time judge:
(1) is not required to comply with
Canons 4A(4), 4A(5), 4D(2), 4E, 4F, or 4H(3);
(2) except as provided in the
Conflict-of-Interest Rules for Part-time Magistrate Judges, should not practice
law in the court on which the judge serves or in any court subject to that
court’s appellate jurisdiction, or act as a lawyer in a proceeding in which the
judge has served as a judge or in any related proceeding.
B. Judge Pro Tempore
A judge pro tempore is a person who
is appointed to act temporarily as a judge or as a special master.
(1) While acting in this capacity, a
judge pro tempore is not required to comply with Canons 4A(4), 4A(5), 4D(2),
4D(3), 4E, 4F, or 4H(3); further, one who acts solely as a special master is
not required to comply with Canons 4A(3), 4B, 4C, 4D(4), or 5.
(2) A person who has been a judge pro
tempore should not act as a lawyer in a proceeding in which the judge has served
as a judge or in any related proceeding.
C. Retired Judge
A judge who is retired under 28
U.S.C. § 371(b) or § 372(a), or who is subject to recall under § 178(d), or who
is recalled to judicial service, should comply with all the provisions of this
Code except Canon 4F, but the judge should refrain from judicial service during
the period of an extrajudicial appointment not sanctioned by Canon 4F. All
other retired judges who are eligible for recall to judicial service (except
those in U.S. territories and possessions) should comply with the provisions of
this Code governing part-time judges. A senior judge in the territories and
possessions must comply with this Code as prescribed by 28 U.S.C. §§ 373(c)(5)
and (d).
Applicable Date of Compliance
Persons to whom this Code applies
should arrange their financial and fiduciary affairs as soon as reasonably
possible to comply with it and should do so in any event within one year after
appointment. If, however, the demands on the person’s time and the possibility
of conflicts of interest are not substantial, such a person may continue to
act, without compensation, as an executor, administrator, trustee, or other
fiduciary for the estate or person of one who is not a member of the person’s
family if terminating the relationship would unnecessarily jeopardize any
substantial interest of the estate or person and if the judicial council of the
circuit approves.
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Therefore, I understand that similar
provisions be made for the Judges of the Hon’ble Courts, and the Rules be
strictly adhered by the Judges of the Hon’ble Court.
4. Averment:
Hereby , I do request the honorable
supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of Mandamus” and
to issue instructions to the government of india and constitutional bench
of supreme court of india to enact / codify laws governing
both official actions , private actions of judges from munsiff level to
supreme court of india.. it must also cover quasi judicial officers like police , revenue inspectors , excise
inspectors , district collectors who perform quasi judicial functions. The law
must have provision for legal prosecution of violators , guilty judges, guilty
police & their removal from
office.
That the present petitioner has
not filed any other petition (which are admitted by courts) in any High Court
or the Supreme Court of India on the subject matter of the present petition.
PRAYER:
In the above premises, it is prayed
that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased:
a . Hereby , I do request the
honorable supreme court of India to consider this as a PIL for : “writ of
Mandamus” and to issue instructions to the Government of India , all
state governments and union terrirtories constitution bench of supreme court of
india , to enact laws / codify rules governing judges , police & quasi judicial officers
with regards to their actions both official & private.
b . to pass such other orders and
further orders as may be deemed necessary on the facts and in the circumstances
of the case.
FOR WHICH ACT OF KINDNESS, THE
PETITIONER SHALL BE DUTY BOUND, EVER PRAY.
Dated : 10th october 2016
…………………….FILED BY: NAGARAJA.M.R.
Place : Mysuru ,
India…………………….
PETITIONER-IN-PERSON
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
GUIDELINES TO THE INDIAN POLICE
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE POLICE IN
INDIA
The guidelines for
the code of conduct for the police were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs
and communicated to Chief Secretaries of all States/ Union Territories and
Heads of Central Police Organizations on July 4, 1985.
1. The police must
bear faithful allegiance to the Constitution of India and respect and uphold
the rights of the citizens as guaranteed by it.
2. The police should
not question the propriety or necessity of any law duly enacted. They should
enforce the law firmly and impartially, without fear or favor, malice or
vindictiveness.
3. The police should
recognize and respect the limitations of their powers and functions. They
should not usurp or even seem to usurp the functions of the judiciary and sit
in judgment on cases to avenge individuals and punish the guilty.
4. In securing the observance of law or in
maintaining order, the police should as far as practicable, use the methods of
persuasion, advice and warning. When the application of force becomes
inevitable, only the irreducible minimum of force required in the circumstances
should be used.
5. The prime duty of
the police is to prevent crime and disorder and the police must recognize that
the test of their efficiency is the absence of both and not the visible
evidence of police action in dealing with them.
6. The police must recognize that they are
members of the public, with the only difference that in the interest of the
society and on its behalf they are employed to give full time attention to
duties, which are normally incumbent on every citizen to perform.
7. The police should
realize that the efficient performance of their duties would be dependent on
the extent of ready cooperation that they receive from the public. This, in
turn, will depend on their ability to secure public approval of their conduct
and actions and to earn and retain public respect and confidence.
8. The police should always keep the welfare
of the people in mind and be sympathetic and considerate towards them. They
should always be ready to offer individual service and friendship and render
necessary assistance to all without regard to their wealth and / or social
standing.
9. The police should
always place duty before self, should maintain calm in the face of danger,
scorn or ridicule and should be ready to sacrifice their lives in protecting
those of others.
10. The police should
always be courteous and well mannered; they should be dependable and impartial;
they should possess dignity and courage; and should cultivate character and the
trust of the people.
11. Integrity of the
highest order is the fundamental basis of the prestige of the police. Recognizing
this, the police must keep their private lives scrupulously clean, develop
self-restraint and be truthful and honest in thought and deed, in both personal
and official life, so that the public may regard them as exemplary citizens.
12. The police should
recognize that their full utility to the State is best ensured only by
maintaining a high standard of discipline, faithful performance of duties in
accordance with law and implicit obedience to the lawful directions of
commanding ranks and absolute loyalty to the force and by keeping themselves in
the state of constant training and preparedness.
13. As members of a
secular, democratic state, the police should strive continually to rise above
personal prejudices and promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood
amongst all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic or
sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of
women and disadvantaged sections of society.
Police Corruption is
a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits and
/ or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not
pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest. One common form
of police corruption is soliciting and / or accepting bribes in exchange for
not reporting organized drug or prostitution rings or other illegal activities.
Another example is police officers flouting the police code of conduct in order
to secure convictions of suspects — for example, through the use of falsified
evidence. More rarely, police officers may deliberately and systematically
participate in organized crime themselves.
Police & Human
Rights
OHCHR UNITED
NATIONS
Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 34/169 of 17 December
1979
Article 1
Law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty
imposed upon them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all
persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility
required by their profession.
Commentary :
(a) The term "law enforcement officials", includes all
officers of the law, whether appointed or elected, who exercise police powers,
especially the powers of arrest or detention.
(b) In countries where police powers are exercised by military
authorities, whether uniformed or not, or by State security forces, the
definition of law enforcement officials shall be regarded as including officers
of such services.
(c) Service to the community is intended to include particularly
the rendition of services of assistance to those members of the community who
by reason of personal, economic, social or other emergencies are in need of
immediate aid.
(d) This provision is intended to cover not only all violent,
predatory and harmful acts, but extends to the full range of prohibitions under
penal statutes. It extends to conduct by persons not capable of incurring
criminal liability.
Article 2
In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall
respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of
all persons.
Commentary :
(a) The human rights in question are identified and protected by
national and international law. Among the relevant international instruments
are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons
from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment, the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination, the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Convention on the
Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid , the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Standard Minimum Rules
for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
(b) National commentaries to this provision should indicate
regional or national provisions identifying and protecting these rights.
Article 3
Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly
necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.
Commentary :
(a) This provision emphasizes that the use of force by law
enforcement officials should be exceptional; while it implies that law
enforcement officials may be authorized to use force as is reasonably necessary
under the circumstances for the prevention of crime or in effecting or
assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders, no force
going beyond that may be used.
(b) National law ordinarily restricts the use of force by law
enforcement officials in accordance with a principle of proportionality. It is
to be understood that such national principles of proportionality are to be
respected in the interpretation of this provision. In no case should this
provision be interpreted to authorize the use of force which is
disproportionate to the legitimate objective to be achieved.
(c) The use of firearms is considered an extreme measure. Every
effort should be made to exclude the use of firearms, especially against
children. In general, firearms should not be used except when a suspected
offender offers armed resistance or otherwise jeopardizes the lives of others
and less extreme measures are not sufficient to restrain or apprehend the
suspected offender. In every instance in which a firearm is discharged, a
report should be made promptly to the competent authorities.
Article 4
Matters of a confidential nature in the possession of law
enforcement officials shall be kept confidential, unless the performance of
duty or the needs of justice strictly require otherwise.
Commentary :
By the nature of their duties, law enforcement officials obtain
information which may relate to private lives or be potentially harmful to the
interests, and especially the reputation, of others. Great care should be
exercised in safeguarding and using such information, which should be disclosed
only in the performance of duty or to serve the needs of justice. Any
disclosure of such information for other purposes is wholly improper.
Article 5
No law enforcement official may inflict, instigate or tolerate any
act of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
nor may any law enforcement official invoke superior orders or exceptional
circumstances such as a state of war or a threat of war, a threat to national
security, internal political instability or any other public emergency as a
justification of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
Commentary :
(a) This prohibition derives from the Declaration on the
Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly,
according to which:
"[Such an act is] an offence to human dignity and shall be
condemned as a denial of the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and
as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights [and other international human rights
instruments]."
(b) The Declaration defines torture as follows:
". . . torture means any act by which severe pain or
suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted by or at the
instigation of a public official on a person for such purposes as obtaining from
him or a third person information or confession, punishing him for an act he
has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating him or other
persons. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in
or incidental to, lawful sanctions to the extent consistent with the Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners."
(c) The term "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment" has not been defined by the General Assembly but should be
interpreted so as to extend the widest possible protection against abuses,
whether physical or mental.
Article 6
Law enforcement officials shall ensure the full protection of the
health of persons in their custody and, in particular, shall take immediate
action to secure medical attention whenever required.
Commentary :
(a) "Medical attention", which refers to services
rendered by any medical personnel, including certified medical practitioners
and paramedics, shall be secured when needed or requested.
(b) While the medical personnel are likely to be attached to the
law enforcement operation, law enforcement officials must take into account the
judgement of such personnel when they recommend providing the person in custody
with appropriate treatment through, or in consultation with, medical personnel
from outside the law enforcement operation.
(c) It is understood that law enforcement officials shall also
secure medical attention for victims of violations of law or of accidents
occurring in the course of violations of law.
Article 7
Law enforcement officials shall not commit any act of corruption.
They shall also rigorously oppose and combat all such acts.
Commentary :
(a) Any act of corruption, in the same way as any other abuse of
authority, is incompatible with the profession of law enforcement officials.
The law must be enforced fully with respect to any law enforcement official who
commits an act of corruption, as Governments cannot expect to enforce the law
among their citizens if they cannot, or will not, enforce the law against their
own agents and within their agencies.
(b) While the definition of corruption must be subject to national
law, it should be understood to encompass the commission or omission of an act
in the performance of or in connection with one's duties, in response to gifts,
promises or incentives demanded or accepted, or the wrongful receipt of these
once the act has been committed or omitted.
(c) The expression "act of corruption" referred to above
should be understood to encompass attempted corruption.
Article 8
Law enforcement officials shall respect the law and the present
Code. They shall also, to the best of their capability, prevent and rigorously
oppose any violations of them.
Law enforcement officials who have reason to believe that a
violation of the present Code has occurred or is about to occur shall report
the matter to their superior authorities and, where necessary, to other
appropriate authorities or organs vested with reviewing or remedial power.
Commentary :
(a) This Code shall be observed whenever it has been incorporated
into national legislation or practice. If legislation or practice contains
stricter provisions than those of the present Code, those stricter provisions
shall be observed.
(b) The article seeks to preserve the balance between the need for
internal discipline of the agency on which public safety is largely dependent,
on the one hand, and the need for dealing with violations of basic human
rights, on the other. Law enforcement officials shall report violations within
the chain of command and take other lawful action outside the chain of command
only when no other remedies are available or effective. It is understood that
law enforcement officials shall not suffer administrative or other penalties
because they have reported that a violation of this Code has occurred or is
about to occur.
(c) The term "appropriate authorities or organs vested with
reviewing or remedial power" refers to any authority or organ existing
under national law, whether internal to the law enforcement agency or
independent thereof, with statutory, customary or other power to review
grievances and complaints arising out of violations within the purview of this
Code.
(d) In some countries, the mass media may be regarded as
performing complaint review functions similar to those described in
subparagraph (c) above. Law enforcement officials may, therefore, be justified
if, as a last resort and in accordance with the laws and customs of their own
countries and with the provisions of article 4 of the present Code, they bring
violations to the attention of public opinion through the mass media.
(e) Law enforcement officials who comply with the provisions of
this Code deserve the respect, the full support and the co-operation of the
community and of the law enforcement agency in which they serve, as well as the
law enforcement profession.
Canons of Judicial Ethics :
Restatement of Values of Judicial Life
In India on 7th May 1997 a 16 point code of conduct, for ensuring proper conduct among members of the higher judiciary was adopted by the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts with the Gujarat High Court as the sole dissenter, reportedly. The 16 point code which the Judges prefer to describe as “The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” is believed to have become effective since then. It was drafted by a Committee of five Judges, headed by Justice Dr.A.S.Anand, as he then was. The other members were Justice S.P.Barucha, Justice K.S.Paripoornan, Justice M.Srinivasan and Justice D.P.Mohapatra. The 16 point code[22] stipulates:
(1) Justice must not merely be done but it must also be seen as done. The behaviour and conduct of members of the higher judiciary must reaffirm the people’s faith in the impartiality of the judiciary. Accordingly, any act of a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, weather in official or personal capacity, which erodes the credibility of the perception has to be avoided.
(2) A Judge should not contest the election of any office of a Club, society or other association; further he shall not hold such elective office except in a society or association connected with the law.
(3) Close association with individual members of the Bar, particularly those who practice in the same court shall be eschewed.
(4) A Judge shall not permit any member of his immediate family to, such as spouse, son, or daughter, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law, or any other close relative, if as member of the Bar, to appear before him or even be associated in any manner with a case to be dealt with by him.
(5) No member of his family, who is a member of the Bar, shall be permitted to use the residence in which the judge actually resides or other facilities for professional work.
(6) A Judge should practise a degree of aloofness consistent with the dignity of his office.
(7) A Judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a member of his family, a close relation or a friend is concerned.
(8) A Judge shall not enter into a public debate or express his views in public on political matters or on matters that are pending or are likely to arise for judicial determination.
(9) A Judge is expected to let his judgement speak for themselves. He shall not give interview to the media.
(10) A Judge shall not accept gifts or hospitality except from his family, close relations and friends.
(11) A Judge shall not hear and decide a matter in which a company in which he holds shares is concerned unless he has disclosed his interest and no objection to his hearing and deciding the matter is raised.
(12) A Judge shall not speculate in shares, stocks or the like.
(13) A Judge should not engage directly or indirectly in trade or business, either by himself or in association with any other person. (publication of a legal treaties or any activity in the mature of a hobby shall not be constructed as trade business).
(14) A Judge should not ask for accept contribute or otherwise actively associate himself with the raising of any fund for any purpose.
(15) A Judge should not seek any financial benefit in the form of a perquisite or privilege attached to his office unless it is clearly available. Any doubt in this behalf must be got resolved and clarified through the Chief Justice.
(16) Every Judge must at all times be conscious that he is under the public gaze and there should be no act or omission by him which is unbecoming of the high office he occupies and the public esteem in which the office is held.
These are only the “Restatement of the Values of Judicial Life” and are not meant to be exhaustive but illustrative of what is expected of a Judge.
Conclusion:
Need of a new law suggested: The only remedy is to provide a legal conscience and for that there is necessity to enact a new law on the lines of Prevention and Corruption Act, 1988 under the purview of which the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts shall be brought, because neither the impeachment procedure of the Judges as provided in the Constitution nor the internal judicial machinery to prevent the corruption of Judges of the Higher Judiciary in India is workable.
Code of conduct for judges
By K. G. Kannabiran
Like the robe of the pastor, it is designed to transform the
wearer in to the instrument of a higher power. The risk is that the judge will start
thinking that he is the higher power. The likelihood increases when he
proclaims from the bench to people who cannot differ with him and acquires a
complacent confidence in his own view of things,
Judge Robert Satter.
Judge Robert Satter.
It is recorded in the "Mirror of Justices" that King
Alfred the Great, the Saxon King hanged forty four judges in one year foe
reasons of violating the cod of conduct prescribed for the judges. One can be
sure that the code prescribed him may not be any different from the code prescribed
by the Chief Justices for themselves and their learned brothers and sister
judges in the High Courts in the recently held conference of the Chief
Justices. Long before the heard of constitutions, Alexis de Tocquoville,
separation of powers and principles of natural justice, Alfred the Great laid
down some rules of conduct for his judges. He had a right to, for he appointed
them .. "if the judges acknowledged they had given a judgement because
they new no better, he discreetly and moderately reproved their in experience
and folly in terms such as these:
"I wonder truly at your insolence, but where as by God's
favor and mine, you have occupied rank and office of the wise, you have
neglected the studies and labors of the wise." He firmly told them
"Either there fore give up the discharge of the temporal duties which you
told, or endeavour more zealously to study the lessons of the wisdom." He
was obviously aware that learning is not a prophylactic against corruption. So
he commanded: Judge them very fairly. Do not judge one judgement for the rich
and another for the poor; nor one for the one more dear and another for the one
more hateful." One can safety presume that the 44 were intractable and
there fore sent to the gibbet for violating these norms. The maladies which
King Alfred found among his judges continued to plague societies down to the
end of the present century.
People's struggles against slavery, arbitrariness in governance
degenerating in to tyranny leading to revolts rebellions and revolutions yielded
these institutions of governance and justice, as also the law and procedure
which should regulate the working of these institutions. These found their
definition in their present form during the period which struggled against and
successfully defeated Stuart absolutism culminating the English Revolution.
This marks the beginning of Role of Law. There has never been any visible
severance with the past. It was by a patient theoretical re formulation and re
definition during the course of long periods in history that the severance with
the arbitrary past was effected. But long side with these developments
absolutist trends against which people struggled, were dexterously woven in to
jurisprudence and theories of law. The power of the King stood transferred to
parliament and the courts. The privileges which parliament claimed against the
King, were by, by an in comprehensible legerdemain, transformed in to
privileges against the people who elected them. Similarly the courts were given
independence against transference by the king and the executive mainly to
protect the people and realm against arbitrariness. But very often they worked
in tandem with the parliament and the executive in perpetuating and justifying
arbitrary governance , whenever they felt that people are in a state with a
insurrection against the institutions and the state. Ironically it was in the
process of securing rights for the people and establishment of Rule and Law
that parliament clamed contempt powers against citizens and the absolute powers
of legislation. The limits of its legislative power are exposed by the example
given. Theorists were of the view that parliamentary power is so absolute that
it can legislatively order drowning of all blue eyed babies in river Tames - a
power which no absolute monarch ever claimed… Theorists of parliamentary
democracy defined thus the expansiveness of the power of parliament very
proudly. As at present this adoration of absolute powers of the parliament is
the view point which is questioned by those who have started a movement for the
inclusion of the entrenched rights in the English Constitution Historically
there was an appropriation of the power of the absolute monarch by the
legislature and the courts. Where as there have been attempts in limiting the
power of the legislature and the executive by popular pressure, periodic
elections which act as a check on authoritarian trends and principally judicial
review by Courts of executive actions and legislative measurers, no such
systematic attempts has been made to contain the absolute powers of the courts
without impairing the independence. Any attempt at reforming judiciary leads to
paint these attempts as attempted erosions of judicial independence. Judicial
independence is not a value in itself. It is expected so subserve the social
values, which have been incorporated in to the constitution. Despite this
assurance e of independence Courts have neither promoted democracy nor
personnel liberty or social economic and political justice in the fifty year period
of the constitution. This independence coupled with contempt power has made the
institution absolutist and such an institution can never be the bulwark of
democracy. A transgression of moral sanction come easily for absolute power.
The judiciary appropriated the contempt power the king had as an
aspect of justice. It was an emanation of Royal authority and any contempt of
court was really contempt of the Sovereign. If under the constitution the
people are the sovereign no legitimate inference can be drawn that constitution
delegated the court the sovereign power to punish the people or any one among
them. Just as the Indian parliament inherited the privileges of the House of
commons, The Indian Courts inherited the contempt power from the king of England.
The Courts in India trace their genealogy of power to the Royal power of
punishing people for contempt and its subsequent metamorphoses . This power was
transformed in to a power which inheres in a court of record and the offence
has become sui generis and transcends the limits of reasonable restraint
judicially defined with impunity… The myth of original court of records in
which the power of punishing for contempt inheres has become part of the occult
jurisprudence which law abounds in. Such anachronisms and obscurantism coupled
with irremovable tenure leads to misconduct among the judges. To the principle
that untrammeled power whether de jure or de facto would encourage impunity the
judiciary is no exception. These powers are absolute and one cannot even plead
justification in public interest when accused of contempt. The elected
representatives do not have such absolute powers.
An authoritative statement of the character and magnitude of
contempt power would demonstrate why a code of conduct for any judges may not
really be effective:"… It is an offence purely sui generis, and that its
punishment involves in most cases an exceptional interference with liberty of
the subject, and that, too, by a method or process which would in no other case
be permissible, or even tolerated … The jurisdiction should be exercised in
more carefully in view of the fact that the defendant is usually reduced, or
pretends to be reduced, to such a state of humility, in fear of more severe
consequences if he shows any recalcitrancy, that he is unable or unwilling to
defend himself as he otherwise might have done"(Oswald "On Contempt
of Court")
Having been fed on hope and illusions all of us applauded the
Judges for prescribing for themselves a code containing principles, which are
merely Polonius style pious homilies. These cannot be enforced and can be
breached at will. The conduct the code addresses to are old habits and they
hard die. The Chief Justice who is only first among equals he has no authority
to command his colleges. to commence their sittings strictly according to the
prescribed timings
In the life of a constitutional appointee the private and public
divide or dichotomy does not exist One cannot be unjust unequal and arbitrary
in personnel life and claim to adjudicate constitutional principles completely
and fairly in courts. Talking about professional ethics. Durkheim raises
issues, which appear to be quite relevant in today's context " A way of
behaviour, no matter what it be, is set out on a steady course through habit
and exercise. If we live a morally for a good part of the day, how can we keep
the springs of the morality from going slack in us?. We are not naturally
inclined to put ourselves out or use self restraint; if we are not encouraged
at every step to exercise restraint upon which all morals depend, how should we
get the habit of it? If we follow no rule except that of clear self interest,
in occupations that take up nearly the whole of our time, how should we acquire
a taste for any disinterestedness, or selflessness or sacrifice?" If they
are merely moral precepts do the judges require a code of conduct like the
clerical cadre? Does not the constitution imply a Code of Conduct? The
objectives enumerated in the Preamble to the constitution, the fundamental rights,
the fundamental obligations enumerated in part IV and the Constitutional oath
prescribed for these appointees regulate their working in courts and the same
values give rise to moral principles on a which to regulate ones conduct in
life. A whole life time is spent in career seeking and career promotion and
that has brought about a debasement of public morality. The colonial mind-set
and the iniquitous feudal and caste practices, which every one of us has
internalized, still is the predominant culture of these institutions. This is
compounded by the adversarial system a legacy of laissez faire to the
profession, has brought about a legal culture, which is unredeemingly
competitive impervious to social mores and social purposes.
The pharisaical righteousness, the aggressive, authoritarian and
pompous demeanor and other feudal habits, and the discourse in courts high
light and inform any causal observer that this institution is arbitrary and no
code of conduct can ever improve their performance unless we invoke against the
members of the judiciary the same principles of deterrence which they so
generously expound in criminal cases. The first step towards reforming the
judiciary is to democratise the structure, the mode of discourse and dispense
with the professional robes, a symbol of power. The simulated obsequiousness
which one is a witness to in courts is quite disgusting and it goes with the
colonial-feudal structure. The obsequious mode of address gets transformed into
a title and we find a judge being addressed as "your Lordship"
outside the court and in seminars or on any such occasion where a judge is
participating or is merely present!
The expression "Justice" is similarly used to a judge who has demitted his office as if it is a title. Though we abolished titles the habit continues. The whole scene appears quite pompous The institution should be exposed to public criticism by confining contempt power a very narrow field of administration of justice and that will discipline the institution. Everything about the Court requires a radical transformation and the first step should be to discard the colonial and feudal vestiges which alone would give a democratic visage it so badly needs. Not the least is the liberation of a profession from self imposed servitude as a part of a lawyer's professional competence.
The expression "Justice" is similarly used to a judge who has demitted his office as if it is a title. Though we abolished titles the habit continues. The whole scene appears quite pompous The institution should be exposed to public criticism by confining contempt power a very narrow field of administration of justice and that will discipline the institution. Everything about the Court requires a radical transformation and the first step should be to discard the colonial and feudal vestiges which alone would give a democratic visage it so badly needs. Not the least is the liberation of a profession from self imposed servitude as a part of a lawyer's professional competence.
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