Mahesh Jethmalani Highlights Judicial Corruption Concerns
In a striking address on Monday, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani highlighted the pervasive issue of corruption within the judiciary, particularly focusing on the role of ‘fixer lawyers’ who allegedly facilitate bribery among judges. Speaking at the 6th Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, Jethmalani stressed the necessity for intelligence agencies to relay information about these individuals to the Supreme Court Collegium.
“Corruption in the judiciary and tribunals is often perpetuated by fixer lawyers who manipulate the legal system through bribery,” Jethmalani asserted. “Such lawyers are well-known within the Bar, and their identities should be shared with the Supreme Court Collegium by intelligence agencies, assuming it hasn’t been done already.”
Bar Council Controversies
Jethmalani did not limit his critique to the judiciary alone. He expressed serious concerns regarding the governance of bar councils, particularly the recent attempt to unlawfully extend the tenure of the current Bar Council of India Chairman by five years. “It is a crying shame that there was an attempt to extend the Chairman’s term to 2030, flouting the legally prescribed two-year tenure,” he stated.
He further elaborated on a petition currently before the Supreme Court, which accuses bar council officials of nepotism and corruption. The petition argues that these officials are trying to exert perpetual control over a trust with significant responsibilities. “The petition highlights that the assets and income of the original Bar Council of India Trust were transferred to a new entity, the PEARL Trust. This trust is managed by eleven trustees who are functionaries of the Bar Council of India, and they remain trustees regardless of their membership status,” Jethmalani noted.
Upcoming Lectures and Discussions
The event also announced that Chief Justice of India Surya Kant is set to deliver the keynote address at the lecture series. Additionally, Senior Advocates Swaminathan Gurumurthy and Harish Salve will contribute with lectures on the theme, “Justice Seen To Be Done: Transparency And Public Trust As Pillars.”
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The discussions and allegations raised by Mahesh Jethmalani underline the urgent need for reform and transparency within India’s legal institutions, as well as the critical role of oversight bodies like the Supreme Court Collegium in maintaining judicial integrity.
