NEW DELHI: With the polity still grappling with the sensational incident of discovery of huge amounts of cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence, CJI B R Gavai has said instances of corruption and misconduct in judiciary adversely impact public faith in the judicial system.Speaking on the topic ‘Maintaining Judicial Legitimacy and Public Confidence’ at the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday evening, CJI Gavai said, “Sadly, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary. Such incidents inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence, potentially eroding faith in the integrity of the system.”He said legitimacy and public confidence in the judiciary cannot be secured through coercion of command (contempt proceedings) but through the credibility earned by the courts. “Any erosion of this confidence risks weakening the judiciary’s constitutional role as the ultimate arbiter of rights,” he said.Without referring to Justice Varma, who was swiftly inquired into by a three-member judicial panel which in its report found truth in the discovery of cash at the judge’s official residence on Mar 14 night in New Delhi, the CJI said, “The path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive, and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues.”He said every system, no matter how robust, is susceptible to issues of professional misconduct. “In India, when such instances have come to light, the Supreme Court has consistently taken immediate and appropriate measures to address the misconduct,” he said.The CJI said the SC has taken another step to bolster public confidence in the institution through voluntary disclosure of assets by its judges. This enhances transparency and promotes greater accountability and setting an example of ethical leadership, he said.“The Court maintains a dedicated portal where judges’ declarations are made public, demonstrating that judges are willing to subject themselves to a degree of scrutiny, similar to other civil functionaries,” he said.The CJI said though live streaming was done to curb fake news or out-of-context reporting of court proceedings, there are instances where reporters go overboard and give a twist to remarks of judges.“Only last week, one of my colleagues (Justice PV Sanjay Kumar) in a lighter vein counselled a junior counsel on the art of court craft and soft skills. Instead, his statement was taken out of context and reported in the media as, ‘Our ego is very fragile; if you offend it, your case will go out’,” Justice Gavai said, calling out a news article published in a digital media platform dedicatedly reporting court proceedings.In conclusion, he said, “In today’s digital era, where information flows freely and perceptions are rapidly shaped, the judiciary must rise to the challenge of being accessible, intelligible, and answerable, without compromising its independence.”