Tuesday August 26, 2008, 11:42 pm
Sad there is corruption in all Nations, but it is refreshing to see officials actually doing something about it. Unlike here in America where accountability seems to have disappeared. Oh, except for the working peons:(

Tuesday August 26, 2008, 11:42 pm
Oh, Thank you Naresh

Wednesday August 27, 2008, 12:16 am
http://www.pagalz.com/blog/2008/08/26/court-judgements-for-sale-in-india/

Wednesday August 27, 2008, 6:43 pm
CBI takes charge of judge probe
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27
The investigations into the ‘cash-at-judge’s house’ case were today formally handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The CBI, which was reportedly asked by the Chandigarh administration on the advise of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Tirath Singh Thakur to take over the investigations, has accepted the task.

So the case against former Haryana additional advocate-general Sanjeev Bansal, Delhi-based hotelier Ravinder Singh, at whose behest Rs 15 lakh were allegedly wrongly delivered at the residence of Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, and others will now be investigated by the CBI.

The development was on the cards as Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishan, had reportedly suggested to Justice Thakur to opt for a probe by the CBI.

While senior officials of the Chandigarh police are obviously relieved, the development, by many, is being viewed as a failure of the city police.

Officials claim that one of the main reasons for the transfer of the case was that the police had failed to prevent “leakage” of information related to the investigations.

Sources said though the matter was sensitive and was being monitored closely by the High Court, the police could not prevent the “leaks”, which were causing immense embarrassment to all those allegedly involved in the case.

The other apparent reason was failure of the police to nab main accused Ravinder Singh resulting in the police could not establish the motive behind the incident.

Ravinder has been absconding for the past 14 days and the police virtually have no clue about his whereabouts.

While reports appearing in a section of the press claimed that even the UT police was keen to let go of the investigations and had requested the administrator to recommend a CBI probe, IG SK Jain preferred to reserve his comment.
Timeline

August 13: Bansal’s munshi Parkash Ram allegedly delivered a packet containing Rs 15 lakh at Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s residence.

August 16: The Chandigarh police registers a case against Bansal, Ravinder Singh and others and arrests Parkash Ram.

August 20: Bansal surrenders. Nirmal Singh arrested. Both remanded in
police custody.

August 22: Panchkula-based property dealer Rajiv Gupta arrested.

August 23: Justice Nirmal Yadav of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, whose name figures in the investigations, proceeds on leave.

August 26: Bansal and Gupta were sent in judicial custody. Special public prosecutor announces in court that HC judge identified for prosecution.

August 27: Case transferred to the CBI.

Saturday August 30, 2008, 6:46 pm
Judges feel bugged
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 30
The judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court believe that someone has been eavesdropping on them.

Available information suggests the judges are of the belief that “some state agency” has not only placed their incoming and outgoing numbers under surveillance, but is also listening to their conversations.

These apprehensions have already sent alarm bells ringing. The issue has become the talk of the high court, and was only recently discussed by a number of judges at a meeting.

The judges decided to hang up on the existing service provider, and to go in for new numbers from a different service provider. In fact, the judges have zeroed in on the BSNL.

The matter is now expected to be placed before the committee concerned of two judges for the implementation of the decision. Meanwhile, the BSNL officers say they are in touch with the high court.

The judges of the superior judiciary, and also of the subordinate courts, have for long been apprehensive about their phones being tapped. Similar apprehensions have also been aired time and again by advocates handling "anti-establishment" cases.

The issue was first raised by the judges about a month ago. As many as 15 judges penned down their apprehensions in a letter to the then Chief Justice and demanded a probe by an independent agency. They insist that illegal tapping of phone is a "serious offence" and the matter needs thorough investigation.

Supreme Court’s senior advocate K.T.S. Tulsi, who appeared in the apex court in the Amar Singh phone-tapping controversy, seems to agree.

He says phone tapping is “serious invasion of right to live with dignity and honour, and also right to privacy, which forms part of Article 21 of the Constitution of India”.

Tulsi says the violation of these rights of the judges can lead to sense of insecurity among people.

In India, individuals, firms or agencies, without license and proper official documents, are barred from tapping any private or public phone. As per the license conditions, telecom companies, too, are not allowed to indulge in illegal phone tapping. The security agencies can tap phone lines, but the reason has to be valid and in larger public and national interest.

“It can be resorted to only when the national security is involved, and that also with the prior permission of the homes secretary,” Tulsi adds.

Phone tapping is easy, but it is extremely hard to clamp down on agencies snooping on the GSM cellular phones. All that an agency requires is equipment costing about Rs 25 lakh. It is a small electronic device not bigger than a personal computer, and enables anyone using it to set himself up as a private detective.

Wednesday September 10, 2008, 5:01 pm
New Delhi, September 9
A day after the Centre announced it was preparing to impeach Calcutta High Court Judge Soumitra Sen for ''misconduct,'' Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan today granted permission to the CBI to question two Punjab High Court judges, Nirmaljeet Kaur and Nirmal Yadav, in a ‘cash-at-door’ scam.

The CJI's approval comes at the request of the CBI which has been asked to probe the case by Punjab Governor SFR Rodrigues, who is also Chandigarh Administrator, after consultions with Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur.

Punjab High Court Judge Nirmaljeet Kaur had lodged a police complaint on August 13, stating that Rs 15 lakh was found at her doorstep and named Prakash Kumar, assistant of former Additional Advocate General Sanjeev Bansal, as the suspect.

The UT police arrested Bansal after registering a case against him under IPC provisions and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Investigations revealed that the money was actually meant for delivery at the residence of Judge Nirmal Yadav.

CJI Balakrishnan had simultaneously constituted a three-judge committee to go into the matter on the recommendations of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur.

Justice Hemant Lakshman Gokhle (Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court), Justice K S Radhakrishnan (Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court) and Justice Madan B Lokur (Delhi High Court) were entrusted with the investigation.