CJI JS Khehar refutes allegations of nepotism against judiciary

With barely two weeks left for his retirement, Chief Justice of India, Justice JS Khehar chose to respond to allegations of nepotism against the judiciary, reports India Today..Interestingly, the topic came up during the Independence Day event organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) when SCBA President RS Suri raised some issues concerning the Bar and the Bench..According to India Today, Suri in his speech stated.“Why most of the judges who become HC judges are sons of acting or previous judges? Why is it that 80 per cent of panels are filled with sons and daughters of the judges? These things have to be explained logically so that we give some chance for other persons also to come up the ladder because they too are able and capable. We have excellent relationship with the judiciary but we have to be given our due.”.Khehar in his speech chose to respond to the issue raised by Suri by stating the case of his own son..“About a few months ago, I woke up one morning and read a newspaper which said, ‘Chief Justice’s son appointed on a panel of government.’ I immediately called him up and asked, ‘Son, are you on the government panel?’ He said. ‘No father. I am not on any government panel.’ He said there is another Khehar on the panel and they assumed it is me. Then I asked, ‘Did you get a letter from the government appointing you?’ He said, ‘No.’ I asked him if he takes occasional briefs from the government, he said, no. So what appears as a misuse of authority may not be a misuse of authority, Mr President.”.He narrated another incident wherein a son of a Delhi High Court judge was unwilling to take up judgeship for the reason that his father was a judge..“There was an international conference on arbitration I attended. There I met a young enthusiastic lawyer and I was told he practises in Delhi High Court. I was impressed with him and even judges of Delhi High Court there spoke highly of him. When I met him later I asked him why don’t you become a judge. He said, ‘No, sir. Everybody will say I am a judge because of my father.’ So, Mr President, please do not say that,”, said CJI Khehar looking at Suri..Allegations of nepotism and favouritism is not new to legal fraternity. Many sitting Supreme Court judges have come in for a lot of flak for the same including CJI Khehar.