The Fall of India’s Judicial Integrity”

Poonam Sharma
The  judicial system of Bharat , the country’s most revered pillar of democracy, is seemingly sliding into a crisis of trust, morality, and responsibility. “With the impeachment of Judge Jaswant Verma now underway, preparations for a second impeachment motion orchestrated by the opposition  targeting Judge Shekhar Gupta are already in motion.” .What is going on ? Does Bharat’s Opposition Shield Corrupt Judges for Political Gain?  or it is like if you touch our system we will destroy yours ..

Look at the growth of the indignation in the public after recent episodes—spanning from the molestation and savage rape of a dentist in Hyderabad to letting terrorists and rapists out on technicalities—represents an erosion of trust in the very custodians of justice. The controversy today exceeds dubious judgments and delays; it encompasses corruption, political intervention, ideological prejudice, and the seeming protection of monstrous criminals under the cover of “human rights.”

The alarming trend of court judgments, stonewalling on urgent national cases, and the accusations of bribery scandals indicate a more serious malaise—India’s judiciary is fast becoming unaccountable. This article attempts to delve into these issues in some detail, and pose an uncomfortable question: Has our judiciary become a playground for the corrupt and the strong?

The Hyderabad Dentist Case: Human Rights for Rapists?
The ghanaid gang rape and killing of a young dentist in Hyderabad outraged the nation’s conscience. The  men accused of the crime, who were allegedly lorry drivers, had well planned the act. Their subsequent police killing as they faced a later encounter, which many welcomed as \’instant justice\’, was legally questionable, but emotionally gratifying for a frustrated society fed up with delayed justice.

But what happened next was even more appalling. Human rights organisations stepped forward—not to protect the  victim’s rights or advocate for quick-track justice—but to claim compensation on behalf of the molesters’ families. This strange twist of justice led to public outrage. Was this compassion, or was it a planned move to subvert justice by exploiting legal loopholes?

Further, it was reported that some of these families, purportedly supported by political activists and NGOs, sought compensation and legal assistance even though no credible FIR had been filed in the victim’s name at the very first stage. What becomes of public trust when the judiciary or its sympathetic institutions give greater importance to the “rights” of suspected rapists than to the trauma of the victim?

Justice on Sale? The ₹50 Crore Charge and Withheld FIRs
Things only got worse with the sensational charges involving a top judge justice Jaswant verma —allegedly given a ₹50 crore bribe to pass a verdict in a politically charged case. That the judge has refuted the charges notwithstanding, that no FIR was filed and that the process of impeachment has been held back are big questions.

Is the judiciary really independent, or is it being hijacked by political and financial forces? The involvement of the opposition in selectively initiating or opposing impeachment motions is an indicator of the perilous politicization of justice. When Parliament remains hesitant to do what is right against a corrupt judge due to pressures of vote-banks or ideological alignments, democracy itself is at risk.

Judges’ impeachment, as infrequent as it may be, has to be regarded as a constitutional imperative—not a political trick. But till date, nearly all attempts so far have either failed due to lack of unanimity or suffered from procedural roadblocks. This only encourages the corrupt and drowns out the whistleblowers.

Justice Delayed and Denied: Mumbai Blasts, Kanhaiya Lal, and More
Take a moment to remember the 12 men responsible for the 2006/2007 Mumbai train blasts—most of them were only recently released. Their victims, 187 lives lost and hundreds more injured, still await true justice. Even now, families grieve in silence as the courts overturn convictions decades later. Contrast this with how promptly political activists and celebrities secure bail—while terror-accused remain free, verdicts hang in limbo. Just yesterday, in another shocking twist, all 12 accused were acquitted a mere day after the High Court’s ruling.

In Rajasthan, the shocking assassination of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur—a Hindu tailor who was beheaded during the day by Islamist extremists—was filmed. But even with the overwhelming evidence, there has been no progress. How is such an open-and-shut case stuck in legal paralysis?

Even more astonishingly, in Odisha, a rape accused man went scot-free, purportedly citing his “five-times-a-day prayer schedule” as evidence of good character. The judiciary’s increasing habit of introducing subjective moralism into judgments is perilous, particularly when it preempts hard facts.

Is Kapil Sibal the New Judicial Advisor?
Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who is regularly observed viewing objectionable movies and opining on cases pending before courts, seems to be shaping judicial thinking in understated ways. His public presence in media and courtrooms evokes questions: Is he merely sharing legal views, or is he influencing the courts’ moral direction? “Kapil Sibal’s reaction to The Udaipur Files reeks of political bias and moral apathy. His refusal to acknowledge the barbarity caught on camera is an insult to the memory of Kanhaiya Lal and every victim of religious extremism.”

When court decisions start to reverberate media reports and political beliefs instead of constitutional norms, it is clear that the division of power is being compromised. Should a lawyer or a politician be regarded as a moral compass for judges? Is this the way impartiality is ensured?

Dushyant Dave’s Shocking Accusation: “Most Chief Justices Are Compromised”
One of the strongest condemnations of India’s judiciary was made by someone within the system. Senior lawyer Dushyant Dave went straight to the point when he said that “most Chief Justices are compromised.”

Why is there no institutional mechanism to probe such allegations? Why has the judiciary been loath to accept the notion of a National Judicial Commission or an external checking body? The judiciary cannot be beyond scrutiny if democracy is to thrive.

The Missing Accountability: What Must Be Done?
Unlike the executive or legislature, the judiciary is not accountable to the people through elections. Its sole protection is public faith. But that faith is now eroding. Judges who make politically expedient decisions are rewarded, while those who rock the boat are penalized. Judicial corruption is not punished, and the ordinary citizen has no recourse.

If Parliament considers a real impeachment motion, it has to be perceived as a constitutional check—not a political stunt. Judiciary has to be held accountable through audits, performance evaluations, and regular mandatory public disclosures. The collegium system has to give way to an open, merit-based selection process.

 Is This Justice or a Game of Thrones
Justice in India is turning into a tragic game—where decisions are taken not by truth, but by money, politics, ideology, and media din. Rape victims are gagged, terrorists are let out on bail, and corrupt judges remain unpunished.

If this trend goes on, the judiciary will no longer be a pillar of democracy but an instrument of the powerful. The people of India are observing. Their forbearance is not limitless. If those who are obligated to safeguard justice cannot overcome greed, ideology, or politics, they would become the very criminals they have once sought to prosecute.

It’s time to recover the soul of Indian justice—before it’s too late.