In a significant development, a division bench of the Rajasthan High Court has issued a show-cause notice to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking suo moto criminal contempt proceedings against him. The PIL was filed by local advocate Shivcharan Gupta after Chief Minister Gehlot made a controversial remark implying "corruption" within the judiciary.The controversy erupted when Chief Minister Gehlot, while speaking to reporters in Jaipur, made a statement that raised eyebrows. He remarked, "Corruption is rampant in the judiciary today. I have heard that some lawyers themselves take the judgment in writing, and the same judgment is pronounced."
This comment by the Chief Minister was met with swift backlash and criticism. Legal professionals and various quarters expressed concern over the implications of such a statement on the integrity of the judiciary.
In response to the growing controversy, the division bench of the Rajasthan High Court, presided over by Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice Ashutosh Kumar, convened on Saturday to address the matter. They issued a show-cause notice to Chief Minister Gehlot, instructing him to provide a response within three weeks.
Subsequently, Chief Minister Gehlot attempted to clarify his statement, stating that his remarks did not reflect his personal opinion. He emphasized that he has always respected and believed in the judiciary. However, his initial comments had already triggered significant unrest within the legal community.
In a display of protest against the Chief Minister's comments, thousands of advocates initiated a boycott of work in both the high court and lower courts in Jodhpur on the following day. This protest served as a powerful symbol of the legal community's concern regarding the potential impact of such statements on the judiciary's reputation and public trust.
The notice issued by the Rajasthan High Court to Chief Minister Gehlot is a crucial development in this ongoing controversy. It underscores the importance of responsible and measured statements by public figures, particularly when it comes to matters as sensitive as the functioning of the judiciary. It remains to be seen how Chief Minister Gehlot will respond to the notice and how this issue will progress in the weeks ahead.
