RTI:SC assails high court judgement on CJI`s accountability

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court of India has
contended the Delhi High Court judgement holding the Chief
Justice of India is accountable under the Right to Information
(RTI) Act would seriously impair the independence of the
judiciary.
In an appeal filed before itself Monday, the Supreme
Court registry said the judgement needs to be quashed as the
judiciary not only as institution but even individual judges
should be "insulated from pressures and prejudices."
"Judges under our Constitutional scheme occupy a unique
position and discharge unique functions in the constitutional
scheme of things. It is necessary and imperative that the
conduct of the judges is not subject to 'litigative public
debate'.
"It is respectfully submitted that the effect of the
judgement of the Hon'ble High Court will seriously impair the
position of the judges and the doctrine of independence of
judiciary," the special leave petition filed behalf of the
Supreme Court by counsel Devdatt Kamat stated.
In a path-breaking verdict, the Delhi High Court had on
January 12 held that the office of the Chief Justice of India
comes under the purview of the RTI Act and rejected a Supreme
Court appeal, saying judicial independence is not a judge's
personal privilege but a responsibility cast upon him.
In its appeal, the apex court submitted the principle of
‘Independence of the Judiciary’ entails that the judiciary is
insulated from pressures and prejudices at all levels:
institutionally and at individual level.(more)PTI