In a powerful statement that strikes at the heart of judicial ethics, Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai has cautioned against judges accepting government positions or entering electoral politics immediately after retirement, saying such moves risk damaging the judiciary’s credibility and the public’s faith in its independence.

“If a judge takes up another appointment with the government immediately after retirement, or resigns from the bench to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny,” said CJI Gavai while addressing a high-level roundtable on judicial independence at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on Tuesday.

The CJI warned that such post-retirement moves may be perceived as “conflicts of interest,” especially if they follow politically sensitive rulings.

“A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as an attempt to gain favour with the government,” he added.

CJI Gavai highlighted a growing perception that judicial decisions might be influenced by the anticipation of post-retirement rewards.

“The timing and nature of such post-retirement engagements could undermine the public’s trust in the judiciary’s integrity,” he noted.

He also reaffirmed that he and several of his colleagues have “publicly pledged not to accept any post-retirement roles or positions from the government,” in a bid to protect the judiciary’s standing as an impartial pillar of democracy.