Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has raised concerns over the judiciary’s handling of a major corruption case, questioning why an FIR has not yet been filed despite evidence of a tainted cash haul at the residence of a sitting judge in March 2025. Speaking to members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Dhankhar emphasized that the government is handicapped, unable to register a case due to a three-decade-old judicial order requiring permission from the highest judicial functionary.
“Why was that permission not given?” Dhankhar asked. “That was the minimum that could have been done on the earliest occasion. We have lost more than three months, and the investigation has not even begun.” He also questioned whether money had influenced judicial decisions, arguing that the temple of justice must remain free of corruption.
The Vice President pointed out that the committee of judges investigating the matter lacks constitutional or statutory sanction, and cannot replace an FIR or the Constitution’s prescribed removal mechanism for judges. He reiterated that under India’s separation of powers, penal action must follow legal processes, and that even the President and Governors only have immunity while in office, unlike the judiciary’s current protection.
Dhankhar praised bar associations for taking up the issue, urging a scientific and thorough investigation to restore public confidence. “Surely the cash did not come without a purpose,” he said, adding that those responsible must be held accountable.
Recalling past legal precedents, he referenced the 1957 Sarwan Singh v. State of Punjab case, stressing that the gap between “may be true” and “must be true” is narrow but requires unimpeachable evidence. He warned against allowing the issue to be forgotten, saying, “We must not let the lid remain on the can of worms. Let the skeletons in the cupboards come out.”
Dhankhar also highlighted concerns about judicial independence, stating that judges must be fearless, but cannot be exempt from investigation. He urged bar associations to play their role as watchdogs of democracy, insisting that justice must prevail regardless of status or influence.
As India grapples with judicial integrity concerns, Dhankhar’s remarks signal a strong call for accountability, setting the stage for further legal scrutiny into allegations of judicial corruption.
