Ex-judge favours independent panel for appointment of judges

Ex-judge favours independent panel for appointment of judges
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 12: Retired Judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice Hosbet Suresh has called for independence of the Judiciary at all levels, right from the Supreme Court down to the lowest court in the country and rooted for an Independent Commission to oversee the appointment of Judges.
Speaking at the one day seminar on Judicial Accountability and Transparency in Judicial system and reforms in law organized by the Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law in association with the South Goa Advocates Association here on Saturday, Justice Suresh lamented that there’s still no proper system in the selection of judges, saying the system is bad at the lower level.
He further said that the appointment of Judges is shrouded in secrecy and called for an independent commission for the appointment of judges. “There is no methodology and transparency in the selection of Judges. The process is shrouded in mystery”, he said.
The former Judge of the Bombay High court slammed the Accountability Bill mooted by the government, terming it as a farce and will not help bringing about accountability in the Judiciary. “The Judges need to be accountable to conscience and faith”, he asserted and added that there is no political will in the country to reform the Judicial system.
In his key note address, Adv Joaquim Reis of the Bombay high court said the lawyers in Goa have a great task ahead to conscientise the national on the niceties and benefits of the Common Civil Code prevailing in the state of Goa.
He said that any law reforms should help the economically weaker sections and ensure human rights of the marginalized and the minorities.
Adv Reis underlined the need to have a relook at the Public Premises Eviction Act, whether the law has served the desired purpose.
President of South Goa Advocates Association, Adv Anacleto Viegas said that a National Commission should be established for the appointment of Judges and an independent body to investigate complaints of corruption against the Judges. “It is an open secret that there is corruption in the Judiciary as stated by the Supreme court in many cases”, he added.
Adv Viegas further the law makers in Goa should have a close on the inventory proceedings, saying the law has only helped the land sharks from divesting land of the Goan people.
President of Vidya Vikas Mandal Ramnath Kare and Principal of Govind Ramnath Kare College of law, A S Nadkarni also spoke. Adv Radharao Gracias spoke on the need for transparency and accountability in the Judicial system, while Herald’s Weekend Editor Sujay Gupta touched on the Role of the media in bringing transparency and accountability in the Judicial system. President of the Goa Union of Journalists, Prakash Kamat spoke on the Impact of “Trial by Media” on the Judicial system.