The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Judicial office is a public trust'

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Saturday, Sep 30, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Judicial office is a public trust'

Staff Reporter

WARM SEND-OFF: Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph (right) and High Court judge B. Padmaraj at the farewell function for the latter in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: Senior judge of the Karnataka High Court B. Padmaraj on Friday said it was the duty of the Bar and the Bench to protect the integrity of the judicial process, which required that stringent standards be imposed upon the administration of justice.

Speaking on the eve of his retirement at a special sitting of the High Court, the judge said any conduct that tends to undermine public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of a judge would be deleterious to the efficacy of the judicial process.

He said that for the efficient discharge of the responsibilities of courts, it was essential that the confidence that people had in them and the high prestige and great respect that they enjoyed should be maintained and not allowed to erode.

He said judicial office was essentially a public trust, and society, therefore, was entitled to expect that a judge must be a man of high integrity and impervious to corrupt influences.

"A respected and independent judiciary and a respected and strong Bar are indispensable if we want to maintain our system of freedom under the law. There is a need for a strong independent judiciary and a strong Bar, as both are the two main organs in the administration of justice," he said.

Karnataka State Bar Council chairman Y.R. Sadashiva Reddy recalled the services of Mr. Padmaraj.

High Court judges, presiding officers of lower courts, Bangalore Advocates Association president D.L. Jagadeesh, advocates and High Court staff were present.

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