Madras High Court Acknowledges Judicial Corruption, Rejects Film Ban Request The Madras High Court recently addressed allegations of judicial corruption, stating that dishonest judges have existed and continue to do so. The court explicitly rejected a petition seeking to ban the Tamil film Karpai (Kruppu), which portrays the Indian judiciary as corrupt. The court emphasized that while the legal system faces challenges, it cannot be entirely dismissed as a "holy cow" or untouchable entity. The court’s ruling followed a petition filed by lawyer R.S. Tamilvendan, who argued that the film’s depiction of the judiciary as corrupt and dysfunctional harms public trust in the legal system. The petitioner claimed that the film’s portrayal of judges and court procedures as deeply flawed could damage the reputation of the judiciary. However, the High Court dismissed the request, stating that the film’s exaggerated portrayal of corruption is a common trope in Tamil cinema. The court acknowledged that judicial corruption is a reality, citing statements from former Chief Justice of India S.P. Bharucha, who had previously claimed that approximately 20% of judges are corrupt. The court also referenced the views of legal experts like Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan, who have long criticized the judiciary’s integrity. However, the court clarified that it does not endorse the sensationalized narratives often presented in such cases. In its order, the court highlighted that it is aware of numerous instances of judicial misconduct and has taken administrative actions to address such issues. Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, the judges presiding over the case, stated that while the legal system is not perfect, it cannot be entirely discredited.#madras_high_court #prashant_bhushan #r_s_tamilvendan #s_p_bharucha #shanti_bhushan
