High Court judge writes to PM on nepotism in appointments

Lucknow : A letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Allahabad High Court judge Rangnath Pandey, alleging "nepotism, favouritism and casteism" in the appointment of judges to higher courts, has now earned the support of the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council.

Bar Council chief Hari Shankar Singh said that the judge's letter should be treated as a public interest document and the government should act on it. He said that the lawyers supported the contents of the letter. At least, two other judges of the high court, who did not wish to be identified, said that they agreed with the contents of the letter and termed it unfortunate.

A senior judge in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court said, "Everyone knows about the malaise in the judiciary. Justice Rangnath Pandey is about to retire and hence, he could vent his feelings. I hope his letter will get the desired attention."

Another judge in the same court said that Justice Pandey's letter echoed the sentiments of several other judges. "The process of judge selection needs to be overhauled if the dignity of the judiciary is to be maintained," he added.

A retired IAS officer S.P. Singh said that the letter confirmed that there is something seriously wrong with the judiciary. "There are three generations of lawyers becoming judges from the same family. Can this be justified?" he asked. Justice Pandey's letter dated July 1 calls the present process of judges' appointment "unfortunate".