Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed the Lok Sabha that between 2016 and 2025, the Chief Justice of India's office received 8639 complaints against sitting judges. The highest number, 1170, were recorded in 2024 alone. The government clarified that such complaints are handled through the judiciary's in-house mechanism.
In New Delhi on February 14, 2026, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented data on complaints related to the judiciary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. He stated that from 2016 to 2025, a total of 8639 complaints against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts were received by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) office.
The year 2024 saw the highest number with 1170 complaints. The minister explained that investigations and actions on these complaints are conducted under the judiciary's internal in-house mechanism, without direct government intervention.
Meghwal referenced two key Supreme Court resolutions from May 1997. The first is the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, which sets conduct standards for judges. The second is the in-house procedure, providing for steps against judges who violate these standards.
Under this process, complaints against Supreme Court judges and High Court Chief Justices are sent directly to the CJI. Complaints against other High Court judges are handled by the respective High Court Chief Justice. Additionally, complaints received via CPGRAMS (Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) or other channels are forwarded to these authorities.
This disclosure may fuel discussions on judicial accountability, though the government emphasized that the process remains entirely within the judiciary's domain.
