In an unprecedented event, the Madras high court announced that judicial authorities are not immune to corruption. It further said that those judicial officers and public servants found guilty should be declared anti-nationals. This severe comment from the Justice came while revoking a plea by P Saravanan, a village administrative officer. He was suspended from service due to allegations of corruption against him, reported The Times Of India.
Justice SM Subramaniam on March 28, while noticing corruption in the judiciary and calling it the biggest enemy of the Indian Constitution said that the judiciary should start taking up measures to control corruption in various forms. Further explaining how bribing government official is a plague in the country, he brought a classic example that how an unborn child too knows about bribing a government official to gain benefits of government welfare schemes.
The judge said that those corrupt officials are anti-nationals as they stand in the way of the development of their own country. Further citing a comparison between terrorists and the corrupt officials, he said that as terrorists are termed as anti-social elements for blocking country’s development then these officials are too doing the same thing, albeit in different forms.
Raising concern about the current conditions of the educational institutes and other public offices, he said it is unfortunate that sexual favours are asked to carry forward a work. He further questioned what could be worse than this.
The judge said that a common man has to face corruption even at burial grounds, which he termed to be the “worst form of corruption”. The judge in dismay said that one has to bribe to even receive proper time and decent burial.
Cracking the whip on the poll-related corruption, Justice Subramaniam said that people associated with parties who are bribing voters are accountable and responsible for enactment of laws. He also said that people who commit these crimes are shaking the very foundation of democratic principles.
