Judges know how to react to criticism after delivering judgements: Kemal Pasha

Kochi: High Court Judge Justice B Kemal Pasha Sunday said judges know how to react to criticism being levelled against them after delivering a judgement, but they adopt a dignified approach to such situations.

"The judge should speak through his judgement.... not otherwise," he said, speaking at a programme organised here on the first death anniversary of Justice V R Krishna Iyer.

"Judges know how to react to many such criticism. But (they keep silence because of) dignified approach of the judiciary.. Attacking a judge personally is equivalent to flogging a person after tying his hands," he said in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

His remarks assume significance in wake of incidents of judges being personally targeted, particularly by politicians after they gave verdict upholding justice, but hurting the interests of the latter.

It was Justice Kemal Pasha's bench which cleared the decks for further investigation against Kerala Congress leader K M Mani in the bar bribery case last month.

Mani was forced to quit as state Finance Minister after Justice Pasha's observation that "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion".