RESTATEMENT OF VALUES OF JUDICIAL LIFE

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Context:

The Prime Minister’s visit to the Chief Justice of India's residence for Ganapati puja raised concerns over judicial impartiality based on the 'Restatement of Values of Judicial Life'.

About Restatement of Values of Judicial Life

• It was adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997.
• It provides moral standards to guarantee the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the court.
• Judges must remain independent of political figures and the executive branch to uphold the dignity and impartiality of the court.
• They must maintain public trust by avoiding close relationships with active advocates.
• They should declare any financial relationships to the companies involved in the cases they are hearing.
• They must remain politically neutral to interpret the law without affecting politics.
• They should avoid discussing instances in the media or giving interviews that could impact the public's opinion of a situation.
• They should avoid accepting gifts unless they are from family or close friends.
• They must not be involved in speculative financial activities, such as share trading.

Way Forward

• The document gives clear guidelines, but continuous implementation is challenging due to judges' need to balance personal and professional responsibilities.
• It is an important document that upholds ethical standards and ensures justice is performed without fear, favour, or bias.
  • • However, its success is dependent on its reinforcement and the judiciary's ability to adapt to changing socioeconomic conditions.
• Ethics training programs and more judicial oversight could help to ensure ethical decision-making in both personal and professional life.
• Ensuring that these judicial norms are respected is vital to maintaining public trust in the Judicial System.

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Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Critically analyze the significance of the "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life" in maintaining the independence of the judiciary. How does it contribute to public trust in the Indian judicial system?