The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) on Thursday expressed concern over the use of state resources during recent official visits by the Chief Justice of India and several sitting judges of the Supreme Court of India to Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, saying the arrangements raise questions about judicial propriety and independence.

In a statement issued on March 5, the civil society group said the manner in which the visits were organised and publicised “raise concerns regarding judicial independence, institutional propriety, and compliance with established ethical standards for the conduct of judges in office.”

Referring to information available in the public domain, CJAR said a chartered aircraft operated by a private aviation service was reportedly used by judges and their staff to travel from Delhi to Ahmedabad.

It further noted that the Chief Justice later travelled in an aircraft of the Government of Gujarat from Ahmedabad to Tirupati, while the Government of Andhra Pradesh allegedly arranged two special aircraft for the onward journey of six Supreme Court judges and some of their family members from Tirupati to Vijayawada and from Vijayawada to Delhi.

The group said the matter was particularly significant because both Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are frequent litigants before the Supreme Court.

“In such circumstances, if acceptance of state-sponsored transport and logistical arrangements, beyond lawful entitlements and protocol measures is indeed true, this raises serious concerns regarding judicial propriety and independence,” the statement said.

CJAR also flagged concerns about the reported use of a privately chartered aircraft for the initial leg of the journey. According to the group, such arrangements could create a public perception of special privilege.

“Further, the aspect of judges travelling by a privately chartered aircraft from Delhi to Ahmedabad also gives rise to potential public perception of ‘special privilege’, and undue influence or compromised judicial independence,” it said.

The statement cited the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life”, adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997, which sets out ethical standards for judges.

Quoting from the document, CJAR said: “Justice must not only be done but it must also be seen to be done. The behaviour and conduct of members of the higher judiciary must reaffirm the people’s faith in the impartiality of the judiciary.”

The watchdog society group also referred to provisions in the document that emphasise the need for judges to maintain distance from situations that may create a perception of bias. It quoted the guidelines stating that “a judge should practice a degree of aloofness consistent with the dignity of his office” and that “a judge shall not accept gifts or hospitality except from his family, close relations and friends.”

CJAR said the acceptance of expensive travel facilities from governments that are litigants before the Supreme Court could undermine public confidence in judicial independence.

“Every judge must at all times be conscious that he is under the public gaze and there should be no act or omission by him which is unbecoming of the high office he occupies and the public esteem in which that office is held,” the statement quoted from the 1997 document.

The organisation has called for clarity from the concerned authorities on the arrangements made during the visits. It urged the state governments involved and the Supreme Court to disclose whether the travel and logistical arrangements were part of official protocol and who bore the cost.

CJAR said it believes that transparency in the matter is essential to maintain trust in the judicial system, reiterating that the judiciary must remain free from any influence, “perceived or real,” and continue to command the confidence of the public as an impartial guardian of justice.