Why teach kids ‘gossip’: Ex-CJI amid NCERT row | India News
New Delhi Justice Sam Piroz Bharucha, who as CJI, admitted there was corruption in the judiciary.On December 22, 2002, he told an audience in Kollam, Kerala that “more than 80% of judges in this country, across the board, are honest and incorrigible. It is that small percentage that brings the entire judiciary into disrepute”.After CJI Surya Kant on Wednesday took umbrage at NCERT’s Class VIII textbook containing references to corruption in the judiciary and termed it a “highly calculated and deep conspiracy to pervert the judiciary”, former CJI NV Ramana welcomed the move.Justice Ramana said, “Should like-minded students be taught anything based on corridor gossip? On what basis is NCERT trying to defame the institution and demoralize judges?”When told that former CJI Bharucha had talked about corruption, Justice Ramana said, “A loose comment by the former CJI cannot be the basis for teaching it as gospel truth to students. It’s not right. CJI Surya Kant has done the right thing by taking up the matter on his own initiative.”Justice Bharucha said, “To show that the judiciary does not tolerate corruption in its ranks, corrupt judges must be investigated and removed from service.” CJI BR Gavai admitted in June 2025 that cases of corruption had adversely affected public faith in the judiciary in the wake of the seizure of a large amount of cash from Justice Yashwant Verma’s official residence. Speaking at the UK Supreme Court on ‘Maintaining judicial legitimacy and public confidence’ on June 3 last year, Justice Gavai said, “Unfortunately, there have been cases of corruption and misconduct even within the judiciary. Such incidents inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially on trust in the system.”In November 2010, the SC called the Allahabad High Court something “rotten” in its order in ‘Raja Khan vs UP Sunni Central Waqf Board’. “We are sorry that there are so many complaints against certain judges…,” it said. “Some judges have their relatives practice in the same court and, within a few years of starting practice, the judge’s son or relation becomes a millionaire, enjoys huge bank balances, luxury cars, huge houses and lives of luxury,” the SC said.In August 2023, then Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stirred up a hornet’s nest by alleging that there was “rampant corruption in the judiciary”. When the Rajasthan High Court took cognizance of a PIL seeking action against Gehlot for his remarks, the chief minister quickly issued an unconditional apology while having “full confidence in the judiciary”.
