My Lords; No Arrogance Please
THE High Court, in the above case, was pained to see that the material would depict a gloomy picture about the petitioner that he is arrogant and would always throw to winds the well-established judicial conventions. Instances of keeping the matters for writing dissenting orders for months together and fighting with the other Members on silly aspects are some of them. The High Court observed,
It is the bounden duty of the Judges to maintain utmost decorum on and off the dais. Deviations in this regard by the Judges would result in loss of confidence about the entire judiciary by the Public and the Bar.
The allegations made against the petitioner by the respondents that he sans such decorum are quite alarming. It is also to be mentioned that there is no allegation made against the petitioner touching his integrity. Therefore, what comes to be known is that the petitioner is rigid even to his colleagues - whether junior or senior - and behaves in a harsh manner with them and he seems to have not maintaining any cordial relation with any of his colleagues or for that matter with the Bar also, further throwing to winds the judicial conventions.
No institution could survive in a democracy unless it earns public esteem; and it can earn the public esteem only by discharging its duties impartially and expeditiously. Judiciary is no exception for this principle.
The impartiality of the Judges has to be not only actual but also manifest and apparent. This is in conformity with the oft-repeated maxim-"Justice must not only be done but also appear to be done.'
The well-established precepts of public trust and public accountability are fully applicable to the functions, which emerge, from the public servants or even the persons holding public office.
People occupying higher positions in the society and enjoying the respect and benefits attached to such exalted positions at the cost of the taxpayer's money, must adorn the positions in a responsive manner and to be role models for others to follow. Nobody has raised his little finger against the petitioner about his honesty and integrity, but all the allegations are pinpointed towards his arrogant behaviour and ignoring the judicial conventions. All these would force us to direct the petitioner to mend his ways, conduct himself in a dignified manner, and follow the established judicial conventions, so as to maintain the decorum on and off the dais.