New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly condemned the "perversity" arising from a purported complicity between a judicial officer and a court employee that led to the eviction of a woman and her three minor children from their home, warning that "temples of justice cannot be allowed to become a fertile ground of corrupt activities".

Favouring an "iron-hand approach" against acts of impropriety by judges and court staff, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said that "sometimes harsh orders are required so that a right message is sent", as it refused to interfere with the directions issued by the Allahabad High Court in the case.

"We think the directions issued by the high court are befitting of the ...