Sir — Of late, the Indian judiciary has thrown up some surprises. The two recent ones are the suspension of the sentence awarded to film star Salman Khan for driving under the influence of alcohol, and the acquittal of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on corruption charges. In both cases, the trial courts had found the accused guilty. The issues, thereafter, came up before the High Courts concerned, which gave the two celebrities relief.
A mature democracy as ours will have to abide by judicial decisions, however unpalatable they may be to lay individuals. Publicly, one may assail a judgement for its incorrectness, but it would be sacrilege to question the motive of the judge. It is in this context that the constitutionality of the National Judicial Appointments Commission, now before the apex court, assumes the greatest importance. We may be able to do without brilliant judges, but we definitely want honest judges.