New Delhi, June 5 -- Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai has sounded a strong note of caution against judges accepting government posts or contesting elections immediately after retirement, warning that such practices raise "significant ethical concerns" and risk eroding public confidence in the judiciary's independence. He was addressing a high-powered roundtable on judicial independence at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on Tuesday. "A judge contesting an election for a political office can lead to doubts regarding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, as it may be seen as a conflict of interest or as an attempt to gain favour with the government," he added. According to the CJI: "The timing and nature of such post-retirement engagements," he added, "could undermine the public's trust in the judiciary's integrity, as it could create a perception that judicial decisions were influenced by the prospect of future government appointments or political involvement."P6...