**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer to Starred Question No. 205, asked in the Lok Sabha on February 13th, 2026, concerning complaints against judges. It outlines the government's understanding of the mechanisms used to handle complaints against judges and presents data on complaints received by the Supreme Court over the past decade. A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **In-House Mechanism:**
* The judiciary handles complaints against Judges and Chief Justices of the High Courts through an "in-house mechanism."
* The Supreme Court adopted Resolutions on May 7th, 1997, including:
* "The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life," which sets judicial standards.
* "In-house procedure" for remedial action against judges not adhering to these standards.
* The Chief Justice of India can receive complaints against Judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of the High Courts.
* Chief Justices of the High Courts can receive complaints against High Court Judges.
* Complaints received via CPGRAMS or any other form are forwarded to the appropriate Chief Justice.
* **Complaint Data (2016-2025):**
* The document provides a table detailing the number of complaints received in the office of the Chief Justice of India against sitting Judges from 2016 to 2025, inclusive.
* Complaint numbers are as follows:
* 2016: 729
* 2017: 682
* 2018: 717
* 2019: 1037
* 2020: 518
* 2021: 686
* 2022: 1012
* 2023: 977
* 2024: 1170
* 2025: 1102
**Impact Analysis**
**Judiciary (Supreme Court and High Courts)**
* **Impact:** The document reaffirms the existing in-house mechanism for handling complaints and transparency about the number of complaints.
* **Action Required:** Continue adhering to established procedures for receiving, processing, and resolving complaints against judges, and maintaining the integrity of the judicial standards laid out in "The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life."
**Minister of Law and Justice**
* **Impact:** Required to answer questions related to complaints against judges.
* **Action Required:** To lay the provided statement on the Table of the House.
**Public/Citizens**
* **Impact:** The document outlines the availability of a complaint mechanism via CPGRAMS.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required, but it provides awareness of the avenues for lodging complaints against judges.
Key Entities Referenced
Supreme Court of India: Handles complaints against Judges and Chief Justices of the High Courts through an in-house mechanism and maintains records of complaints.
High Courts: Where complaints against Judges and Chief Justices are handled by the judiciary through an in-house mechanism and records maintained.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The ministry to whom questions regarding complaints against judges are addressed in the Lok Sabha.
CPGRAMS: A mechanism used to forward complaints against members of the Higher Judiciary to the Chief Justice of India or Chief Justices of High Courts.
"In-house procedure": The established procedure for the Higher Judiciary, whereby the Chief Justice of India is competent to receive complaints against Judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the High Courts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 205
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 13th 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.
[1]STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) IN RESPECT OF
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 205 FOR REPLY ON 13th 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 7th 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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