Justice for Sale: The Rise of Judicial Scandals in India is a ground-breaking exposé on the unsettling crisis that haunts one of the world’s largest democracies—India’s judiciary. Authored by veteran legal practitioner and human rights advocate Bharat Bhushan Pareek, this deeply researched and courageously written book unmasks the troubling underbelly of India's judicial institutions. With over 36 years of legal experience and a body of work rooted in defending constitutional rights, Pareek undertakes a bold mission to confront an uncomfortable truth: justice in India is no longer immune from corruption, favoritism, and systemic decay.

The Indian judiciary, long held as the guardian of constitutional morality and the final arbiter of justice, is portrayed in this volume not through the lens of ceremonial rhetoric, but as an institution struggling under the weight of its own contradictions. While courts are celebrated for upholding democracy and delivering landmark judgments, they are also riddled with internal scandals, opaque procedures, unethical conduct, nepotism, and at times, criminal behavior. This book dissects that paradox with fearless precision and offers a mirror to an institution that often shuns self-reflection.

Structured meticulously across more than 25 chapters, Justice for Sale is both a documentation and a diagnosis. It chronicles real-life cases of judicial corruption, controversial appointments, manipulation of bench rosters, selective judgments, mysterious deaths, ignored whistleblowers, and the pervasive silence that shields the guilty. But more than that, the book raises critical questions: Who watches the judges? What happens when the protectors of the Constitution become violators of its spirit? Why do systemic safeguards fail when the misconduct originates from the bench itself?

A Deep Dive Into Institutional Failure
At the heart of this book lies a recurring theme—the illusion of judicial accountability. From the collegium system of appointments to the in-house disciplinary mechanisms, Pareek illustrates how power within the judiciary remains unchecked, insulated from public scrutiny, and devoid of external oversight. Through chapters such as “The Collegium Conundrum,” “The In-House Procedure – A System of Shielded Scrutiny,” and “Uncle Judges – The Grip of Nepotism in Indian Courts,” the book lays bare a self-regulating institution that fiercely guards its privileges, but hesitates to embrace transparency.

The book’s central concern is not merely individual misconduct but systemic rot. It argues that corruption is no longer incidental in Indian courts—it is embedded. The architecture of silence, procedural opacity, and institutional self-protection has allowed unethical behavior to proliferate. While judges may not always take bribes in open courtrooms, many manipulate laws, delay justice, twist facts, and reward proximity over principle—often without fear of consequences.

In chapters like “Case Law vs Face Law – When Justice Bows to Identity,” Pareek explores how judgments are sometimes based not on legal merit, but on the identity of the litigant. The book also documents how public interest litigation (PIL), a once-noble judicial innovation, is at times reduced to a weapon in the hands of vested interests, selectively entertained or dismissed depending on who knocks at the courtroom door.

Unveiling Real Scandals and Suppressed Stories
This book is not theoretical. It draws from decades of case law, judicial records, newspaper investigations, and first-hand accounts to present a detailed analysis of some of India’s most controversial judicial episodes. From the case of Justice C.S. Karnan, who publicly named sitting judges and faced imprisonment, to the Loya Mystery, involving the suspicious death of a judge in a politically sensitive case, the book documents how critical events are often buried under legalese and orchestrated silence.

Other chapters delve into bribery allegations, such as the “Cash-at-Doorstep” scandal involving Justice Nirmal Yadav, and the Medical College Scam, implicating judges at the highest levels. These incidents are not isolated—they reveal a pattern of institutional response marked by soft exits, transfers without accountability, and the absence of criminal prosecutions even in the face of serious charges.

One of the book’s strongest contributions is the inclusion of chapters on judges who were accused in criminal cases, punished through disciplinary action, or involved in sexual harassment allegations. Pareek also critically examines the use of contempt of court as a shield to silence dissenters—from activists like Prashant Bhushan, to former judges who dared to speak the truth. These chapters illustrate how contempt powers are often wielded to suppress legitimate criticism, while judges with questionable records continue to enjoy unchecked privileges.

International Comparisons and Global Context
Justice for Sale goes beyond the borders of India. It examines how judicial corruption is tackled—or enabled—in other countries, offering comparative studies of Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and various European countries. These chapters provide context and contrast, showing where India stands in the global landscape of judicial integrity and failure.

From China's highly politicized judiciary and systemic lack of independence, to corruption in lower courts in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Pareek situates India within a wider framework—arguing that without urgent reforms, India risks replicating the very failures it once claimed to be immune from.

Quotations, Judgments, and Legal Insights
An essential part of this book is its rich compilation of Supreme Court of India quotations on judicial corruption. These judicial observations—some candid, some restrained—reveal the judiciary’s own struggle to come to terms with internal decay. Alongside these quotations, the book includes landmark judgments that expose judicial bias, judicial misconduct, and the systemic failure to enforce ethics on the bench.

Pareek’s legal acumen allows him to interpret these judgments not merely as legal texts but as political and ethical events. He dissects language, tone, and context to reveal what lies between the lines of even the most celebrated rulings.

A Call for Judicial Reform
At its core, Justice for Sale is a call to action. It demands reform not only in structure but in culture. The book proposes specific recommendations—from creating an independent judicial complaints commission, to reforming the collegium system, to making judicial asset declarations mandatory and public. It calls for an end to the era where judges investigate judges, and for the establishment of mechanisms where accountability is real, transparent, and time-bound.

Pareek emphasizes that judicial reform is not merely a legal requirement—it is a democratic necessity. In a country where courts have historically intervened to protect civil liberties, the erosion of public faith in the judiciary strikes at the heart of democracy itself. The author warns that without urgent intervention, the Indian judiciary risks becoming a hollow institution, celebrated in rhetoric but distrusted in reality.