Corruption A "Hydra-Headed Monster"; Anti-Corruption Efforts Should Be Seen As Efforts To Promote Democracy : CJI Sanjiv Khanna

Saying that the "hydra-headed monster" of corruption has plagued the Indian society for long, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna highlighted corruption can be rooted out only with the help of an educated and engaged citizenry.

At the same time, the CJI  said that the fight against corruption must aim to strengthen democracy and public trust, not diminish it. "Anti-corruption efforts should be seen as a means to promote democracy not an end in itself. Institutionally, we must ground our actions in the principles of open societies, balancing human rights with deterrence. Simply put – we must do anti-corruption democratically!" CJI said at his address delivered on the Lok Pal day.

CJI said that while the performance of the Lok Pal so far demonstrate its potential, some challenges persist. "The mere establishment of Lokpal cannot per se solve the problem of corruption. For the Lokpal to realize its full potential, it must coordinate seamlessly with existing bodies such as the Central Vigilance Commission, and other referee agencies. Smooth collaboration is essential for gathering evidence, pursuing investigations, and filing charges without undue bureaucratic drag," CJI said.

CJI also highlighted the importance of public trust in ensuring the success of Lok Pal.

"The Lokpal's success will hinge on public trust, which happens through performance, objectivity, independence, and fairness. Its success is also contingent on an engaged citizenry determined to root out corruption. Since citizens play an indispensable role in the fight against corruption- for it is they who file complaints and testify against corrupt officials- educating and enabling the public about how to engage with the Lokpal system remains central to its success," CJI said.

The event was attended by Lokpal chairman Justice AM Khanwilkar, members of the Lokpal, and Attorney General R Venkataramani.  Anna Hazare, who had led protests for the establishment of Lok Pal, was present virtually.

In his address, CJI said that public trust—the belief that governments will act fairly and in the public's best interests—is the invisible force that makes our democracy work. Without this trust, no system — however intricate or well-designed — can function effectively. Public trust, therefore, is sine qua non to any constitutional democracy.

“When moral turpitudes like corruption and bribery creep into governance, public trust begins to erode,” CJI said.