Rampant corruption and opacity in judiciary exposed: A decade of scandals and resistance to reform

In a shocking revelation that underscores the deep-seated rot within India's judicial system, a judicial member of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) recused himself from a case on August 13, after alleging undue pressure from "one of the most revered members of the higher judiciary" to influence the outcome in favour of a particular party.

This incident, involving Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma stepping aside in a dispute between KLSR Infratech Ltd and AS Met Corp Pvt Ltd, is not an isolated aberration but part of a disturbing pattern of misconduct, corruption, and opacity that has plagued India's judiciary over the last decade. From burnt cash scandals to bribery allegations and sexual misconduct, the institution meant to uphold justice has repeatedly found itself on trial, eroding public trust and exposing its resistance to much-needed reforms.

As India's judiciary grapples with over 50 million pending cases — a backlog that could take centuries to clear — critics argue that systemic issues like nepotism, incompetence, and a feudal "caste system" within its ranks are compounded by a stubborn refusal to embrace transparency and accountability.

The Supreme Court's rejection of the parliament-sanctioned National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) in 2015 epitomises this arrogance. It preserves a secretive collegium system that shields judges from scrutiny while allowing corruption to fester. Damning news reports from the last decade paint a grim picture of an institution in crisis and call for an urgent overhaul to restore faith in Indian justice.

A decade of judicial scandals: From bribery to burnt cash

The last 10 years have been marred by high-profile controversies that reveal corruption at every level of India's judiciary.

A compilation of key incidents, highlighting misconduct, ethical lapses and institutional failures:

• 2015: Supreme Court strikes down NJAC, cementing opacity in appointments: In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court invalidated the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, a parliamentary reform aimed at introducing transparency and executive involvement in judge selections. Critics labelled this as judicial overreach, preserving the collegium system where judges appoint themselves in secrecy, fostering nepotism and excluding diverse voices. A decade later, this ruling continues to fuel debates on accountability, with calls for revival amid ongoing scandals.
• 2017: Supreme Court crisis over 'cash-for-judgments' bribery scandal: India's apex court faced an unprecedented crisis when allegations surfaced of a retired high court judge involved in a "cash-for-decisions" scheme in medical college admissions. The handling of the case led to internal rifts, with senior judges accusing the chief justice (CJI) of manipulating benches. This episode mirrored declining public faith, with many viewing the judiciary as no longer neutral or impartial.
• 2017: Justice CS Karnan jailed for accusing 33 judges of corruption: In a bizarre and telling saga, Calcutta High Court judge CS Karnan was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt after publicly alleging corruption against 33 fellow judges, including Supreme Court members. While Karnan's actions were erratic, they spotlighted deeper issues of unchecked power and the judiciary's intolerance for internal dissent.
• 2019: Allegations of judicial corruption and independence erosion: Concerns peaked with reports of the Supreme Court teetering on the edge amid corruption probes and executive incursions. Sexual harassment claims against then-CJI Ranjan Gogoi further tarnished the institution, with in-house inquiries criticised as opaque and biased.
• 2024-25: Persistent backlogs and systemic flaws exposed: With over 50 million cases pending, India's judiciary has been condemned internationally for delays that deny justice. Reports highlight nepotism, judicial incompetence and a sexually skewed pattern of judgments as endemic. A Madhya Pradesh High Court judge recently flagged a "caste system" within the judiciary, where high court judges are treated as _savarn_ (upper caste) and subordinates as _shudras_, revealing feudal and anachronistic mindsets.
• 2025: Justice Yashwant Varma's burnt cash scandal rocks Delhi High Court: In one of the most explosive cases, partially burnt currency notes worth crores were discovered after a fire at Justice Yashwant Varma's official residence in March 2025. An in-house inquiry found evidence of misconduct, leading to impeachment motions and the Supreme Court rejecting Varma's plea to quash the report. This scandal, dubbed a "lifelong nightmare" for judicial integrity, prompted CJI BR Gavai to acknowledge that such instances erode public confidence.
• 2025: Kerala family court judge accused of sexual misconduct: Allegations of sexual misbehaviour against a family court judge in Kerala jolted the state judiciary, triggering a high court probe and highlighting ongoing issues of ethical lapses.
• 2025: 14 judges exposed in bribery and favouritism scandal: A shocking exposé revealed 14 judges involved in bribery, favouritism, and misconduct, turning the judiciary into an "instrument of injustice." This came amid broader reports of corruption in both lower and higher courts, driven by greed and weak enforcement.

These reports, from Transparency International surveys to frontline investigations, illustrate a judiciary riddled with corruption, with 45% of Indians viewing it as corrupt. Yet, the institution's response has been defensive, with in-house inquiries often dismissed as mere "post offices" lacking real accountability.

Slamming the citadel: Opacity, corruption and reform resistance

India's judiciary operates like a fortress of opacity, where judges investigate themselves, appoint kin, and quash reforms that threaten their monopoly. The collegium system, upheld by rejecting NJAC, exemplifies this — a closed club that prioritises loyalty over merit, leading to vacancies, backlogs, and scandals. Corruption thrives in these shadows — from cash hauls to influence-peddling — as seen in the NCLAT recusal and Varma case. No judge has been impeached in independent India, rendering the process a farce due to political inertia and judicial protectionism.

This refusal to reform, blocking legislature-backed changes like the NJAC, smacks of arrogance, which gives precedence to judges' ego over democratic accountability. With persistent vacancies, gender imbalance (there is only one woman on the Supreme Court), and a feudal mindset, the system manifests inequality and inefficiency. As CJI Gavai noted, misconduct directly impacts public confidence, yet the judiciary clings to outdated privileges.

Time for radical change: Revive NJAC and demand transparency

India's judiciary, once a pillar of democracy, now risks becoming a symbol of decay. A decade-long sordid saga of scandals demands action: Revive the NJAC for transparent appointments, enforce strict anti-corruption measures and digitise processes to reduce backlogs.

Until the institution sheds its opacity and embraces reform, justice will remain a privilege for the powerful, not a right for all. The time for excuses is over; India's democracy deserves better.