Retired Supreme Court judge Hrishikesh Roy addressed the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in Ganpati Puja at the residence of then-Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, calling the optics of the event "disturbing" while maintaining that no court-related matters were discussed. Justice Roy stated that while the gathering was a private function, the public visibility of the event led to speculation, which could have been avoided. He emphasized that Justice Chandrachud is a person of unquestionable integrity and dismissed any concerns about judicial influence.
On the issue of judicial propriety, Justice Roy referred to the Bangalore principles, which emphasize that judges should generally avoid interactions with those in power outside of official functions. He suggested that greater caution should be exercised to prevent misunderstandings about the judiciary’s independence.
Justice Roy also commented on Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s controversial remarks at a VHP event, where he suggested that governance should align with the majority’s wishes. Roy revealed that Justice Yadav had initially assured the collegium that he would issue a public apology. However, when no apology was forthcoming, an inquiry was initiated, which remains ongoing.
Regarding judicial appointments, Justice Roy defended the collegium system, stating that while it may not be perfect, no better alternative exists. He disclosed that Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has revived the practice of interviewing nominees, a system that had been discontinued about six years ago.
When asked about one reform he would like to see in the judiciary, Justice Roy expressed a desire for greater representation of women as judges. He noted that progress is being made, with increasing numbers of women entering the legal profession and the district-level judiciary. Over time, this will result in a larger pool of women judges reaching the High Court and Supreme Court, strengthening gender diversity in the judiciary.
