Thread by @TheLeaflet_in

The conversation between Justice Madan B Lokur (Retd.) & @sardesairajdeep on the "State of Judiciary in India" will begin shortly. Stay tuned.

Senior advocate @IJaising says it is impossible to capture the work of the lifetime of Justice Madan Lokur who retired from the office of the judge Supreme Court on December 30, 2018. Our judges retire very young, says Jaising

Justice Lokur made the justice truly participatory, says senior advocate @IJaising

I'm aware that this audience is keen to know Justice Lokur's views on the recent supersession of several senior judges in the country including Chief Justices of several High Courts, says @IJaising

@TheLeaflet_in and @LCHIVWRI would like to make it a tradition to invite retire Supreme Court judges for public interaction so to say to call them to account, says senior advocate @IJaising

@sardesairajdeep - Collegium on December 12, 2018 recommended elevation of Justice Pradeep Nandrajog & Rajendra Menon, but resolution wasn't put out.

J Lokur- Yes a meeting washeld on December 12. Certain decisions were indeed taken. But what happened after 12 Dec,I don't know

Justice Lokur to @sardesairajdeep - it does disappoint me that resolution passed on December 12, 2018 wasn't put up in public domain. But why wasn't it put up isn't my concern.

Justice Lokur- What happens in the collegium is done in confidence. I'm not going to betray anyone's trust by saying whether we discussed this or not, but certain decisions were taken.

Justice Lokur- I don't know what the material was before the Collegium after my retirement.

Justice Lokur- I don't think Collegium system has failed. There are things that happen.

@sardesairajdeep - tell us what happens in Collegium? Whether intense debate is done?

Lokur J.- If CJI suggests if this or that person needs to be transferred or elevated, it is discussed

@sardesairajdeep - Whether members from Bar & Bench have no right to know the additional material came into existence after December 12, 2018.

Justice Lokur- If Collegium thinks the material genuine but defamatory, do you expect collegium to publish it?

Justice Lokur- there is a need to bring change. Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) is silent on many aspects. If High Court Collegium recommends name for appointment, and state government doesn't respond to proposal, collegium proceeds on presumption that state has nothing to say.

@sardesairajdeep - Government sits on file as per its suitability.

Justice Lokur- I don't know about suitability but it is in public domain that government has been sitting on certain files.

Justice Lokur- in the existence circumstances, Collegium system is best. Yes, it needs improvement.

Nobody can sit on file including Law Minister, and Judiciary too.

@sardesairajdeep - was the press conference by four senior judges achieved anything? Was it worth?

Justice Lokur- Yes, some things improved.

@sardesairajdeep - People like Fali Nariman & Soli Sorabjee said judges should have sorted out the issues within the four walls of Judiciary.

Justice Lokur- I don't have to say anything about them.

Justice Lokur- give me names of corrupt judges.

@sardesairajdeep - if I name the corrupt judges, your fellow judges would issue Contempt notice to me.

Justice Lokur- truth is defense.

Advocate @pbhushan1 - a sitting judge of the Supreme Court sought probe against a judge of High Court who is being considered for elevation to Supreme Court. But no probe has been done. It is a very serious matter.

@sardesairajdeep - do judges protect their own?

Justice Lokur- No.

@sardesairajdeep - Prime Minister attended dinner with Supreme Court judges. Doors of SC opened for PM.

Justice Lokur- are you suggesting I shouldn't see the face of Prime Minister? There was nothing wrong in inviting PM to a public function.

@sardesairajdeep - do you agree that judges should attend post retirement assignment immediately after retiring?

Justice Lokur- you have laws that require retired judges & retired CJI to be the chairperson of NHRC & other Commissions. So change the law.

Justice Lokur says judiciary has overstepped sometimes so is executive and judiciary.

@IJaising - were you aware that Rajya Sabha Committee headed by Justice Banumathi had indicted Justice Rajendra Menon for illegally transfering of a judge victim of sexual harasshment? Transfer was against transfer policy.

Justice Lokur- No.

RTI activist @AnjaliB_ to Justice Lokur- all information pertaining to judges appointment is being denied systemically.

Justice Lokur- Constitution bench will have to take a call. Delhi High Court had a view which is under challenge before the SC.

A person from the audience asks Justice Lokur why no dalit judge has been appointed to the SC over last 8 years

Justice Lokur - there was no one senior enough to be appointed as SC judge.

@sardesairajdeep if you offer to head a tribunal to sort out the issue of prisoners between India & Pakistan, will you accept it?

Justice Lokur- Yes, I will. It would help the country.

A person from the audience asks Justice Lokur why hasn't any academician appointed as judge of the Supreme Court ?

Justice Lokur- I don't know.

@sardesairajdeep - do you believe laws such as sedition & criminal defamation most go?

Justice Lokur- yes some laws must go.

@sardesairajdeep - Why wasn't recommendation of the Collegium made on December 12, 2018 sent to Government?

Justice Lokur- I have no idea. I'm disappointed.

Advocate Aparna Bhat to Justice Lokur - is there any Judgment you regret?

Justice Lokur- No.