Govt to bring Bill on judges disclosure of assets

New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) The Indian Government will
soon bring a Bill in Parliament making it mandatory for judges
of the higher judiciary to disclose their assets and
liabilities, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said on Friday.

The government is working on another Bill which seeks
to set up a mechanism for inquiring into cases of corruption
by judges as at present there was no provision "short of
impeachment".

"We will introduce, as part of 100 days' programme, a
legislation on the disclosure of assets and liabilities (by
the judges)", he told a meet-the-press organised by the Press
Association.

Moily said he has asked the Law Secretary to prepare
clause by clause draft of the Bill within two days so that it
can be sent to the Cabinet.

He said it was a wrong notion that judiciary was
against disclosure of assets and liabilities. "We will take
judiciary into full confidence...we are not in a
confrontationist line".

Speaking on corruption in judiciary, Moily referred to
the initiation of impeachment proceedings against the sitting
Calcutta High Court judge Soumitra Sen, charged with
"misconduct".

He said Government will ensure that the impeachment
proceedings against Justice Sen in Parliament is carried out
and "the impression that nothing will happen will have to go".

Moily announced that Chief Justice of India K G
Balakrishnan has named apex court judge Justice B Sudershan
Reddy as the chairman of the three-member panel to initiate
impeachment proceedings against Justice Sen.

"In the last 60 years, impeachment proceedings have
not been successful. This time it is going to happen in
Soumitra Sen's case," he said.

Elaborating government's resolve to reduce pendency
of criminal cases including those of corruption, he said 100
CBI courts will be set up across the country for expeditious
trial of cases under Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Minister said Government will give serious
consideration to criminal cases of heinous nature, including
against politicians, so that the trials could be completed
by fast track courts.

He said 200 family courts would be opened across the
country for speedy disposal of cases and commercial courts
will be set up in the four metros.

Moily restrained himself from commenting on the
controversial issue of legalising homosexuality and
decriminalising section 377 of Indian Penal Code (dealing with
unnatural sexual offences) saying the matter was pending
before the Delhi High Court, which has reserved its judgement.

"The judgement on the issue has been reserved by the
Delhi High Court. It is a sub-judice matter. I cannot comment
on it," he said.

Moily said the issue was being discussed in Ministry
of Home Affairs and Health Ministry and it will come before
the Law Ministry also.

Moily said entry of foreign legal firms to India
cannot be allowed without taking the legal fraternity into
confidence.

"We have to discuss it with open mind. Unless there is
open debate and unless stake holders are taken into confidence
we cannot take any decision," he said.

The Minister steered clear of questions regarding
withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act from Jammu and
Kashmir and the North-East.

Asked about reservation in judiciary, Moily said he
has not applied his mind on the issue but added that there has
never been reservation in the higher judiciary.

He said reservation in subordinate judiciary already
exists.

He said merits cannot be compromised for appointment
of judges in the higher judiciary. However, he added that it
cannot be said that scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
don't have merit.

Moily said as a part of the 100 days' programme, the
agenda for judicial reforms will be in place by September 15
with a plan to evolve a judicial system affordable and
accessible to last man in the queue. PTI