The allegation on how an unnamed additional judge of Madras High Court was given extension at the instance of UPA-I government owing to pressure from an ally, a "Tamil Nadu party", apparently DMK, and then confirmed as a permanent judge led to an uproar in Parliament by AIADMK MPs even as questions were raised by parties like Congress on its timing.
"These three former CJIs made improper compromises. Justice Lahoti who started it, then Justice Sabharwal and then Justice Balakrishnan. These are CJIs who can surrender. Is a CJI going to surrender to political pressure or not going to surrender to political pressure?," Katju, who became the Chief Justice of Madras High Court in November 2004, told TV channels.
"The fact is that they(ex-CJIs) did succumb," Katju said when asked what made them "succumb" to political pressure.
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"There was no justification for giving him another term of one year and then Justice Lahoti retired. Justice Sabharwal also I think once or twice gave him term as additional judge and then he also retired. Justice Balakrishnan made this judge permanent judge although he tranferred him to another High Court," he said.
"That leader was a solid supporter of this corrupt judge," he said, adding pressure was sought to be put on the Manmohan Singh government so that there was no threat to it.
Asked why he was making this disclosure several years after this episode, a rattled Katju said the timing was "immaterial" and instead the matter should be probed to find out whether it was correct or not.