A senior Supreme Court judge has raised a significant concern about a peculiar trend observed in the higher judiciary, comparing it to a cricketer hitting sixes in the final over of a match. Justice J.B. Pardiwala, while addressing a conference, highlighted the practice of some judges passing a flurry of orders and judgments just before their retirement.
A Cricketing Analogy for Judicial Conduct
Justice Pardiwala used a powerful sports metaphor to illustrate his point. He stated that there is a noticeable tendency among some judges to deliver a large number of rulings as their retirement approaches, much like a batsman who aggressively scores sixes in the last over of a game. This observation was made during his address at the 2nd Justice H.R. Khanna Memorial National Symposium, organized by the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University in Lucknow.
The judge emphasized that this behavior warrants serious introspection within the judicial community. He pointed out that such a rush of decisions at the fag end of a judicial career can sometimes raise questions about the timing and nature of the orders passed. His comments have sparked a fresh debate on judicial ethics and the consistency of conduct expected from members of the higher judiciary.
Call for Introspection and Institutional Integrity
In his speech, Justice Pardiwala went beyond just identifying the trend. He called upon judges to engage in deep self-reflection about their actions and their impact on the institution's reputation. The judge stressed that the judiciary must remain a robust and independent pillar of democracy, and its strength is derived from the unwavering integrity and perceived impartiality of its judges.
He warned that the institution is weakened when its members engage in conduct that could be seen as seeking popularity or making last-minute headlines. The real strength, he argued, lies in a quiet, consistent, and principled discharge of duty throughout a judge's tenure, not in a final burst of activity. His remarks underscore a growing concern about preserving the sanctity and public trust in the judicial system.
Broader Context and Legal Community's Reaction
Justice Pardiwala's critique did not occur in a vacuum. It touches upon long-standing discussions within legal circles about judicial behavior, retirement trends, and the pressure of pending cases. The analogy resonates because it visually captures a sudden surge in output that contrasts with a judge's usual pace of work.
Legal experts have often debated whether this 'last-minute' trend is driven by a genuine desire to clear dockets, a push to leave a lasting legacy, or other motivations. Justice Pardiwala's public airing of this issue is seen as a bold move, encouraging transparency and accountability. The legal fraternity is now reflecting on his call to ensure that every judicial action, regardless of when it occurs, is rooted in duty-bound diligence and not external validation.
The symposium, which served as the platform for these remarks, was attended by dignitaries including Supreme Court Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Arun Bhansali. The event focused on contemporary challenges facing the judiciary, making Justice Pardiwala's comments particularly timely and relevant for the ongoing discourse on judicial reforms and ethics in India.
