Lok Sabha Question No. 205 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Complaints against Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Matheswaran V S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 205 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUDGES

## *205. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  any  mechanism  used  by  the  Supreme  Court  to maintain  records  or  database  of  complaints  regarding  corruption,  sexual  misconduct  or other  serious  impropriety  received  against  judges  of  the  High  Courts  or  the  Supreme Court;
- (b) if so, the number of such complaints received by the Supreme Court during the last ten years and the action taken thereon, year-wise and if not, the reasons for not maintaining such  systematic  records  despite  the  existence  of  the  in-house  procedure  for  judicial accountability;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to issue guidelines or take steps to ensure systematic recording,  monitoring  and  accountability  of  complaints  against  members  of  the  higher judiciary in the public interest, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  other  mechanism  apart  from  CPGRAMS  to  collect complaints against judges and forward them to the Supreme Court/High Courts, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 205 FOR REPLY ON 13 th  FEBRUARY, 2026 REGARDING COMPLAINTS AGAINST JUDGES ASKED BY SHRI MATHESWARAN V S.

(a) to (d): Independence  of  Judiciary  is  enshrined  in  the  Constitution  of  India.  The complaints received against Judges and Chief Justices of the High Courts are handled by the judiciary through an 'in-house mechanism'. The Supreme Court of India, on 7 th May, 1997, adopted two Resolutions namely (i) "The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life" which lays down certain judicial standards and principles to be observed and followed by the Judges of the  Supreme  Court  and  High  Courts  and  (ii)  "In-house  procedure"  for  taking  suitable remedial  measure  against  Judges  who  do  not  follow  the  universally  accepted  values  of judicial  life  including  those  in  the  Restatement  of  values  of  Judicial  Life.  As  per  the established  'In-house  procedure'  for  the  Higher  Judiciary,  the  Chief  Justice  of  India  is competent to receive complaints against Judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the High  Courts.  Similarly,  the  Chief  Justices  of  the  High  Courts  are  competent  to  receive complaints  against  the  conduct  of  High  Court  Judges.  Complaints  against  members  of  the Higher Judiciary received vide CPGRAMS or in any other form are forwarded to the Chief Justice of India or Chief Justices of High Courts competent to receive such complaints.

As  per  the  information  received  from  the  Supreme  Court  of  India,  the  complaints received in the office of the Chief Justice of India against sitting Judges during the last ten years, are hereunder:

|   Year |   Number of Complaint received |
|--------|--------------------------------|
|   2016 |                            729 |
|   2017 |                            682 |
|   2018 |                            717 |
|   2019 |                           1037 |
|   2020 |                            518 |
|   2021 |                            686 |
|   2022 |                           1012 |
|   2023 |                            977 |
|   2024 |                           1170 |
|   2025 |                           1102 |

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