Legislators may be able to agree that corruption is problem in the judicial system, but agreeing on a solution appears to be beyond them.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice Ministry panel, tasked with providing recommendations on a bill to set up an institution to investigate corruption in the judiciary, was struggling to reach agreement in June.
The Law Ministry proposed the Judges (Inquiry) Bill in the Lok Sabha in December 2006. It seeks to establish a National Judicial Council to probe allegations of corruption and inefficiency against judges.
The panel members have been debating proposals in the bill, including Section 30, which allows an impeached judge to appeal his dismissal.
Several members, including eminent lawyer and former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, have repeatedly questioned Section 30. Members have also floated questions about the constitutionality of the bill, saying it cannot be passed without amending the constitution.
Section 33, which seeks to make an inquiry against a judge by the National Judicial Council confidential and keep the probe out of the ambit of the Right to Information Act, has also drawn opposition.
