Should a retired judge follow a cooling-off period before taking up a government post? Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal gave this answer

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (Independent Charge) has given a big statement regarding retired judges accepting government posts. He rejected the idea of ​​imposing a cooling-off period (not holding any government post for some time after retirement) before judges accept government post. Meghwal said that there is no justification to stop rational and mentally healthy people from continuing their work.

Union Minister Meghwal said in an interview to PTI that there are two schools of thought in the judiciary itself on the issue of whether retired judges should immediately take up new responsibilities or not. Some people believe that there should be a cooling-off period. While some say that appointments should not be made in haste. Not only this, some people also believe that there should not be any delay in this. Everyone has their own opinion.

Experienced judges needed

Pointing to the vacant posts in tribunals, he said that there is a need for experienced judges in bodies like NCLT and NCLAT. We have tribunals. If a capable person is mentally healthy and has judicial understanding, then what is the problem in giving him work quickly? This comment of the Minister has come at a time when the debate is going on regarding the appointments of retired judges.

Such assumptions are wrong: Meghwal

Apart from tribunals, retired judges are also appointed to NHRC, Lokpal, Law Commission, Press Council of India and high level committees and commissions constituted from time to time. Meghwal said that the debate regarding the cooling-off period is often based on the idea that judges are given posts after retirement in exchange for favorable decisions, but such assumptions are wrong.

He said that the issue of cooling period arises so that it does not appear that someone has given a specific decision and hence he has been appointed somewhere. Doesn’t happen like this. There is no justification in appointing judges whose service record is not good. There should not be any kind of restriction on competent judges. Many retired judges themselves refuse to take new responsibilities.