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It is a matter of utmost paradox that the chief justice of the most powerful Supreme Court in the world should be expressing apprehension for the safety and security of the judges of the superior courts in this country by saying that revealing the particulars of assets of the judges and throwing open the information to the public domain may result in harassment to judges and in turn prevent the judges from performing their duties without fear or favour.

A Karnataka high court judge’s public disagreement with the Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan over making judicial assets public only shows how widespread is concern within and without the judiciary.

The authority of the chief justice of India (CJI), perceived by many as the big boss of judiciary, stands clarified as legal luminaries unanimously supported the stance of Karnataka high court justice DV Shailendra Kumar that a CJI can’t be a spokesperson for the entire fraternity of judges.

In the first open dissent by a sitting judge against the Chief Justice of India’s stand on declaration of assets by the higher judiciary, Justice D V Shylendra Kumar of the Karnataka High Court has said that “it’s a misnomer to think that the judges of the superior courts are not ready to disclose their assets.

In a post on SpicyIP, I reviewed a big ticket compulsory licensing dispute involving the sound recording industry on the one hand, and radio stations on the other. I went on to reflect on the competence of the current Copyright Board that is adjudicating this highly complex dispute. And asked if the Chairman of the Copyright Board, Dr Raghbir Singh was sufficiently qualified to merit his post.

In addressing the issue of the massive backlog of cases pending disposal in India’s courts, the Prime Minister has squarely put the put the ball in the court of the judiciary.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s idea to encourage retired judges to decide pending cases has been widely appreciated at the National Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Ministers of various states recently held in Delhi.

Majority of high courts are strongly opposed to the introduction of merit in appointment of judges, and want the present selection procedure by a committee of senior most judges to continue.

The Law Commission headed by former Supreme Court judge A R Lakshmanan has, in a fresh report, reiterated its earlier recommendation for a change in the system of appointment of judges of the higher judiciary.

Expressing serious concern over the huge number of pending court cases, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday called upon the judiciary and the executive to work together to eliminate the “scourge.