Passing Judgment Against 'Bulldozer' Actions Gave Immense Satisfaction : CJI BR Gavai

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai recently said that it gave Justice KV Viswanathan and him 'immense satisfaction' to pass orders against "bulldozer justice".

While speaking at the 269th Friday Group, an academic group of Supreme Court advocates, CJI Gavai said that he got the opportunity to share the bench with Justice Viswanathan for approximately six months. During this time, the bench had passed a slew of directions against the executive trend of arbitrarily demolishing properties of accused/convicts. Holding those responsible for such action accountable, the bench had said that in a civilised society governed by the rule of law, bulldozer justice is unacceptable.

Recollecting the judgment, he said: "One of the judgments, I think, which gave immense satisfaction to both of us was the bulldozer judgment. What was at the heart of the judgment was the human problems and the problems faced by human beings. The family being harassed only because they were part of the family of one of the members was either a criminal or an alleged criminal."

CJI Gavai said that the credit for the judgment also equally goes to Justice Viswanathan. "Though largely the credit has been given to me, but I must share that the equal credit in authoring the judgment should go to Justice Viswanathan," CJI averred.

Furthermore, CJI Gavai also remarked that the tenure of the Chief Justice of India has no bearing on the administration of justice, as many CJIs who have been there for hardly a few months have left an imprint hard to follow.

He said: "I don't think the tenure of the Chief Justice has a direct relationship with the efficiency of the administration of the justice. We have had the best of the chief justices like Justice Lalit for 2 and a half months and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who proved their imprint and they are known for their contribution to the distribution and administration of justice."

CJI Gavai stated that, on his part, he has done his best for the betterment of justice and to bring improvements in the infrastructure of the judiciary throughout the country.

"I have tried every moment for the betterment of the administration of justice and for bringing in improvement in the judicial infrastructure throughout the country and ensuring that the appointments to the high courts are taken to the logical end with expedition...In the last one or two years, I think we have given or trying to give good representation to the young lawyers who are practising in the Supreme Court. We are all sure that the rich experience that they gather in the Supreme Court really helps in bringing out the efficiency or enhancing the efficiency at the high court level," CJI Gavai concluded.

CJI Gavai will retire in November after a tenure of nearly six months as the Chief Justice.