Date:15/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/15/stories/2006101504310400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Judge-bashing' dubbed terrorism

Special Correspondent

Improper criticism will hamper judiciary's functioning, says Supreme Court judge

LEGAL LUMINARIES: Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat being greeted by Justice M.N.Rao and P.Prabhakar Reddy of the Babul Reddy Foundation in Hyderabad on Saturday. Also seen is G.S.Singhvi, Chief Justice of High Court. — PHOTO: SATISH H.

HYDERABAD: Justice Arijit Pasayat, Supreme Court judge, described `judge-bashing' as a new brand of terrorism unleashed on the judicial system by people dissatisfied with court judgements.

Delivering the sixth Babul Reddy foundation lecture on `judicial accountability and transparency' here on Saturday, Justice Pasayat felt improper criticism of judges stemming from dissatisfaction with their decisions hampered the independence of judiciary.

He said criticism about judicial system which hindered administration of justice or eroded faith in the system must be prevented. He added that the judiciary must be open to fair criticism and `trenchant criticism' if the occasion demanded. But, such criticism must be responsible and legitimate. Judge of High Court, L. Narasimha Reddy, said he practiced law under P. Babul Reddy in whose memory the lecture was instituted. A former judge of Supreme Court, P. Venkatarama Reddy, said the voluntary retirement from legal profession by Babul Reddy was a rare happening.