The Revolving Door of Justice: From Bench to Political Bench
A look at how retired judges seamlessly transition into political roles, raising serious questions about their impartiality while they were on the bench.
The Pattern Nobody Wants to Talk About
It has become an open secret in Indian democracy. A Supreme Court judge delivers a series of verdicts that happen to favor the ruling government. A few months after retirement, the same judge is comfortably seated in the Rajya Sabha, appointed as a Governor, or heading a lucrative tribunal.
Coincidence? The pattern says otherwise.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Since 2014, a significant number of retired Supreme Court and High Court judges have taken up posts that are directly or indirectly controlled by the government they once adjudicated cases for.
The "Cooling Off" Myth
There is no mandatory cooling-off period for judges in India before they take up government positions. Unlike bureaucrats who have a two-year cooling-off period before joining the private sector, judges can walk out of the courtroom on Friday and into a political office on Monday.
When the reward is visible, the bias is inevitable.
What This Means for Justice
Every pending case involving the government becomes suspect. Every verdict that favors the state carries an asterisk. Citizens are left wondering: was that judgment based on law, or was it an audition for a post-retirement role?
The Solution Nobody Wants to Implement
The Law Commission has recommended a cooling-off period. Legal scholars have advocated for it. Public interest litigations have been filed. But the very institution that would need to implement this change is the one that benefits from the status quo.
The revolving door keeps spinning. And justice? Justice is still waiting in line.