That's because politicians don't want to strengthen the judiciary; they want to be the arbiters of justice. How has the mafia in this city been able to settle disputes? It's because the normal legal system is not working. There's a very simple solution. You appoint more judges.

We have the lowest judge to population ratio of many countries. You've got to increase the number of judges and you've got to pay them better. You can't have a magistrate getting Rs 20,000 a month trying a big smuggler who is worth crores of rupees. It's very surprising that our judiciary maintains the kind of integrity it does, given the temptations.

In England, judges are the most respected members of society, and it is a privilege to become a judge. Here, the best lawyers don't become judges, because the salary is not good enough. Any of the judges who are there today would get more (as lawyers). They have a sense of devotion and public service, that's why they are doing it.

Then, you've got to make the judiciary free of political influence. There are two kinds of judges today -- those who know the law and those who know the law minister. You've got to stop that. This tinkering and tampering has to stop. The lure now is going up to the Supreme Court -- every judge has that ambition. All this has got to stop.

Are you satisfied with the way the Mumbai terror attack trial is progressing, with all the delays?

The delays are happening because of the fault of the lawyer who took it up. She was in a conflict of interest situation. Having advised the victim, how can you appear for the perpetrator of the crime?

The public mood was that (26/11 terrorist Ajmal) Kasab should have been hung, and any government should have gone to the polls showing it was hard on terrorism. But this government did not do that. I'm surprised they haven't swiftly brought him to justice.

But which party has been quick in such matters?

The National Democratic Alliance has.

Gujarat after Godhra seems to refute that contention.

Godhra is not a terrorist attack. It was a communal riot.

I was referring to the question of speedy justice.

I've already said communal riots are blot on this nation. I've also said that the quickest thing to avoid a flare-up is to keep the army on standby immediately when the police are not in control. Having said that, I think the Congress unfortunately does not allow wounds to heal, because they want to demonise the BJP to stay in power.

Image: Paramilitary troops patrol a street close to the Arthur Road jail, where the special trial court for Ajmal Kasab has been constructed. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters.

Also see: Are MP funds well-spent? | India Votes 2009

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