CJI Gavai: Taking Public Office Immediately After Retirement Undermines Trust

Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai has issued a strong warning against judges accepting government posts or contesting elections immediately after retirement. Speaking firmly, he stated that such practices raise “serious ethical concerns” and risk diminishing public trust in the independence of the judiciary.

On June 3, he addressed a high-level roundtable conference on judicial independence at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He emphasized that a judge contesting political office could raise doubts about the judiciary’s independence and impartiality, as it may be perceived as a conflict of interest or favoritism towards the government.

“The timing and nature of such engagements can create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by prospects of future government appointments or political involvement,” he said.

Discussing how the collegium system for appointing judges to constitutional courts came into existence, CJI Gavai acknowledged that the collegium is not beyond criticism. However, he stressed that “no solution should come at the cost of judicial independence” and that “judges must be free from external control.”