Gehlot retracts remarks on ‘corruption in the judiciary’ after backlash, and Jodhpur lawyers call a one-day strike

The Rajasthan chief minister said Ashok Gehlot’s comment about “corruption” in the judiciary did not represent his “personal opinion” as lawyers in Jodhpur called for a one-day strike and filed lawsuits against him.

Backtracking occurred when a former chief judge of Uttar Pradesh voiced his opinion, a lawyer submitted a case to the Rajasthan High Court, and another attorney requested permission from the state’s advocate general to bring contempt charges against Gehlot.

Offended attorneys have declared a one-day strike for all courts in Jodhpur, where the high court’s main bench is housed, on Friday. The chief minister was also criticized by the BJP, which leads the state’s opposition.

Gehlot had told reporters on Wednesday that certain judges could be reading aloud instructions written by the attorneys.

The judiciary is now rife with corruption. I’ve heard that some attorneys personally accept the decision and declare it in writing.

However, the CM said on Thursday that he has always respected the legal system.

“What I stated about judicial corruption yesterday was not what I personally think. I’ve always admired and trusted the judges, he said in a post on social networking site X.

Many senior Supreme Court justices, including retired Chief Justices, he said, have voiced concern about the matter.

Gehlot said that because of his unwavering confidence in the legal system, he has never expressed any disapproval of any names that the high court collegium has proposed for consideration in the selection of new justices.

“I firmly think that every person ought to respect and have faith in the legal system. This will advance democracy, he continued.

In Jodhpur, there will be a one-day walkout by the Rajasthan High Court Advocates Association and Rajasthan High Court Lawyers Association.

Govind Mathur, a former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court, said the CM’s statement in Jodhpur was inappropriate. He said, “It is not only irresponsible, but also objectionable.”

He continued by saying that Gehlot should have first spoken with the chief judge of the Rajasthan High Court if he had any proof.

A PIL was submitted to the high court by Jaipur-based attorney Shiv Charan Gupta requesting that it declare the CM’s comments to be in contempt of court.

The panel of Justices Manindra Mohan Shrivatav and Praveer Bhatnagar declined to accord Gupta’s request for an early hearing priority.

Devang Chaturvedi, another attorney, requested permission from Rajasthan Advocate General M S Singhvi in a letter to begin criminal contempt proceedings against Gehlot under the 1971 Contempt of Courts Act.

Pointing fingers at the legal system, according to C P Joshi, head of the Rajasthan BJP, expressed Gehlot’s “frustration”.

Joshi said that it is improper for a CM to make such accusations, saying, “If you don’t have faith in anyone, then the people of Rajasthan also do not have faith in you right now.”