Insisting on his right to speak on behalf of judges,Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on Monday said that the remarks of a Karnataka High Court judge cannot bring "embarrassment" to the judiciary. "How can the remarks of a single judge cause embarrassment. It (judiciary) is a big institution," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in the Supreme Court. He was asked whether the judiciary does not feel embarrassed over the remarks of Justice Shailendra Kumar,who had questioned the authority of the CJI to speak for all judges of superior courts on the issue of declaration of assets. Justice Balakrishnan asked "how can a single judge cause embarrassment to such a big institution". He also said he had made some general comments (about judges) and maintained "I think I have got that right". Yesterday,the CJI described Justice Kumar as "publicity crazy" and such a thing was good not good for a judge. Justice Balakrishnan said there was a need to reach consensus on the issue of declaration of assets by judges.
