Judiciary under attack, says SC bench on allegations against Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed allegations leveled by a former staffer of the court against Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi as "wild and baseless, designed to attack and erode the independence of the judiciary".

The CJI who was presiding over the bench, however, did not pass any gag order against the media on reporting this. Instead the bench urged the media to exercise restraint in the matter.

"Reputation is the only thing we have. Why will any person want to be judge?" The CJI observed.


"This is pathetic. The independence of the judiciary is under a threat. Judges have judicial duties and have to discharge them without fear or favour," he said. "I have Rs 6 lakh odd in my accounts. My peon has more money than I have."

These reports are published with less than 12 hours "notice" to me, he observed. "The judiciary is under attack. We will not allow this." "We will discharge our duties."

The bench said all this in presence of Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who backed the court and sought a gag order on reporting the allegations. The CJI said suitable orders will be passed later by other senior judges sans him.