"We are not saleable commodities:" Justice Shekhar Saraf recuses after being approached for favourable order

Justice Shekhar Saraf of the Calcutta High Court on Friday recused from hearing a case after he revealed in open court that he was approached by one of the parties for a favourable order..When the matter was taken up today, Justice Saraf told Senior Advocate Harish Salve, who was appearing for the petitioner in the case,"It would have been my great fortune to have heard you in the matter, but circumstances are such that I shall not be able to do so at least on this occasion. And I will tell you why. I have been approached directly by somebody I would believe was from your side because that person indicated to me that you will appear in the matter. It's extremely unfortunate that someone can walk into your chamber and approach you. That is the impression that people have of judges of this Court, or of judges across India. I was so shocked at that point that I didn't even say anything and just left it at that. I could have trapped that fellow later on; he wanted to meet me again on several occasions, but I chose not to and just kept away from him though he kept at it.".It's extremely unfortunate that someone can walk into your chamber and approach you. That is the impression that people have of this Court, or of judges across India.Justice Shekhar Saraf.Justice Saraf also revealed that the person who approached him was a lawyer."We are not saleable commodities. And if lawyers come and try and corrupt us, it becomes very difficult for us...It's very unfortunate that this is being done," he said..Salve expressed his regret at the incident."It is obnoxious. This is not the first time I have heard a complaint like this. Your Lordship should not hear this matter," Salve said.The judge then said to Salve,"You see, the worst part is that your wisdom and intellect is being used to perpetuate intellectual dishonesty and corruption. By using a doyen of the Indian Bar, you try to push through an order.".Your wisdom and intellect is being used (by others) to perpetuate intellectual dishonesty and corruption.Justice Shekhar Saraf to Harish Salve.Justice Saraf further said that he could have chosen to get the person into trouble, but that he didn't like "getting into a mess." He later told Senior Advocate Dhruba Ghosh, also appearing for the petitioner, that he would disclose who that person was, in private..After recusing from the case, Justice Saraf ended the hearing on a lighter note telling Salve,"I hope I get another opportunity. Because of this virtual connectivity, we get the opportunity to hear doyens of the Indian Bar. You should try and look for an opportunity to appear before me again!"The judge also recollected how he had as a law school student, seen Salve argue a case in 1992-93."I was interning with Mr. Dipankar Gupta who was then the Solicitor General. I had seen you argue at that point of time," the judge reminisced. .[Read Order]