Katju objects to contempt case against Mamata
Aug 18, 2012
Press Council of India chairperson Markandey Katju has disapproved the initiation of contempt proceedings against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks against judiciary.
Speaking to a television channel, the PCI chairman said there was nothing “original” in her statement as former Chief Justice S.P. Bharucha and several other judges have also talked about corruption in judiciary. “Yes”, he said when asked if he believed that judiciary will be well advised not to undertake contempt proceedings as it would then open a can of worms. “The only time I take contempt proceedings is when somebody jumps to my dais and picks up my file and runs away with it. Then I will not be able to decide the case,” Mr Katju said.
He noted that “if she meant that some judges are corrupt, it is true. It is true that corruption has seeped in judiciary which is unfortunate. But, of course, there are many upright judges also.”
He also slammed the creation of a collegium system for appointment of judges, describing it “illegal and unconstitutional” when there is no mention of such a system in the Constitution. He said this when his attention was drawn to CJI S.H. Kapadia cautioning the government on Independence Day against tinkering with the independence of judiciary.