Judicial independence not negotiable: Chief Justice Lodha

New Delhi, Sept 13: Chief Justice R.M. Lodha on Saturday said that India has already arrived at a stage where nobody can tinker with the independence of the judiciary, but exhorted that to strengthen the role of law, the judiciary will have to ensure that it was completely corruption-free.

"The independence of the judiciary is not negotiable. I can say with confidence that judicial independence has come to stay and no effort will succeed in taking it away.

"By and large, people understand that judicial independence is something which cannot be touched," said Chief Justice Lodha in his inaugural address at a conference organised by the Bar Association of India here.

The chief justice said that judicial independence will be upheld.

He also said that as long as there is judicial independence, the rule of law will be strengthened.

The chief justice said that judicial independence gives confidence to the people that there is an independent judiciary that will come to their rescue if any wrong is done to them.

IANS