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The video recording purportedly showing a senior lawyer talking to a senior judge about appointments to senior judicial posts raises a number of questions which seriously need to be answered - and as soon as possible too.

This has been realised by no less than the prime minister himself who has called for an investigation into the issue and to bring to book those involved if the recording is authentic and to punish those responsible if the tape is unauthentic or had been doctored with to portray wrong information.

It is obvious to anyone who has seen the tape that if indeed the conversation is genuine and between the purported parties then the implications are enormous and would raise serious questions about sections of the judiciary and some senior lawyers.

The only way that this issue can be put to rest is via free and impartial investigations with no hindrance from any quarter on the conduct of the inquiry. And since this has become a public issue with a great deal of attention being focused on it, it is important that the public be kept informed of the progress of investigations.

It is also curious to note that some ministers seem to be taking a stance over this issue which is somewhat contradictory to the stated position of the prime minister which has expressed the view that the matter should be investigated soonest.

If a fair and impartial investigation is to take place then there must be no prejudgment over the issue. What needs to be done is to check to see if the conversation indicated in the recording actually took place.

Depending on the outcome of that, it will be necessary to investigate the extent of judicial interference and its ramifications. And depending on the outcome of the police investigations, it may be necessary to set up a commission of inquiry to suggest remedies.

There has been much talk about sections of the judiciary being tainted and the latest episode is yet another such instance. If the situation is not to worsen and if any further stain on the reputation of the judiciary is to be avoided or remedied, the all-important first step is an investigation.

Let that take place without any prejudgment and any interference from any party.

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