8.6k complaints received against sitting judges in last 10 years: Govt
Times of India
by TNNFebruary 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Indian government revealed that 8,630 complaints have been filed against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and high courts since 2016. This includes a significant spike in recent years, with half of all grievances reported between 2022 and 2025. The complaints are managed through an "in-house procedure" established by the Supreme Court in 1997, which allows the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to handle allegations against Supreme Court judges and high court chief justices to address concerns about their subordinates. This mechanism aims to maintain judicial independence while ensuring accountability.
The system reflects the judiciary's commitment to upholding its own standards through internal oversight. The "Restatement of Values of Judicial Life" guidelines, adopted in 1997, emphasize adherence to universally accepted ethical norms and provide a framework for addressing misconduct among judges. These measures are designed to address issues such as bias or impropriety, ensuring that the judiciary remains impartial and trusted.
The increasing number of complaints highlights growing public scrutiny of judicial conduct. While the exact nature of these grievances is not specified, they underscore the importance of maintaining transparency within the legal system. The government's centralized public grievance redress portal also plays a role in facilitating access to justice for citizens, allowing them to file complaints online against any public authority, including the judiciary.
This issue matters globally as it touches on the broader challenge of balancing judicial independence with accountability. Public trust in the judiciary is
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/13/2026