Chief Justice Sathasivam willing to be Lokpal or NHRC chief
26 Apr 2014
Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam, on his last day in office, yesterday said he would not object to any post-retirement appointment, including being India's first Lokpal or central anti-corruption watchdog, provided the decision is taken unanimously and without controversy.
"If it (being made Lokpal) is a unanimous choice, then definitely I will accept it," Sathasivam told PTI.
Chief Justice Sathasivam demits office today after nine months as the head of the Indian judiciary.
He will be succeeded by Justice RM Lodha.
Among other posts he said he would be willing to accept are as head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), but the post should be uncontroversial and "befitting" an ex-Chief Justice of India.
On the system of appointing of judges which has been much debated in recent years, Justice Sathasivam favoured continuing with the present system of a collegium to appointment the higher judiciary.
"In the present system we appoint judges after proper consultation with the chief justices of high courts, and also seek opinion of advocates general of the states.
"If a person is included from outside the judiciary [in the selection process] they may not have the knowledge, and that will not be proper in the selection of judges," he said.
