Recently, Supreme Court Justice BR Gavai emphasized that a judge resigning from office to immediately contest elections could undermine public confidence in their impartiality.

Speaking at an annual conference for judicial officers in Gujarat on Saturday, Justice Gavai mentioned that judicial ethics and integrity are the cornerstone of the legal system's credibility.

"Judicial ethics and integrity are fundamental pillars that uphold the credibility of the legal system. A judge's conduct while on the bench and off the bench must be in consonance with the highest standards of judicial ethics. A judge praising a politician or a bureaucrat while in office and outside the scope of courtesy may affect the public's trust in the judiciary as a whole," he emphasised.

"For instance, a judge of the Supreme Court of America had to apologize for comments criticising a presidential candidate. Another example is that if a judge resigns from his office to immediately contest elections it may affect public perception of his impartiality," Justice Gavai asserted.

Further, Justice BR Gavai expressed concern over judges making broad statements on sensitive topics like gender, religion, caste, and politics, especially when these remarks fall outside the scope of specific cases.

He noted that such actions could further erode public trust in the judiciary. Addressing the theme "Trust Deficit – Eroding the Credibility of Judicial Institutions – Ways and Means to Combat the Truth Decay" at a conference.

"This might be through informal ways of vigilantism, corruption, and mob justice. This can lead to erosion of law and order in society, causing the public to hesitate in filing cases and appealing decisions," he pointed out.

Further, Justice BR Gavai highlighted that long litigation and slow-moving court procedures contribute to public disenchantment with the legal system. He emphasized that delays in delivering justice not only make it challenging to ensure a fair trial but also erode trust in the judiciary, fostering perceptions of inefficiency and injustice. These delays, he pointed out, harm the accused who are later acquitted and further aggravate overcrowding in prisons, adding to the system's strain.

"However, short clips of court proceedings presented out of context can create wrong perceptions about the judge. There is a need to develop appropriate guidelines on live streaming of court proceedings to curb the misuse of clips being circulated out of context," Justice Gavai said.