The Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Wood has dared critics to activate the necessary constitutional provision for punitive action to be taken against her if they believe she has violated the laws of the land. A strong worded statement from the office of the Chief Justice and signed by Mrs. G.A Tagoe, Director of Communications reiterated that her ladyship has not violated any section of the constitution in carrying out her duties. The competence and impartiality of Mrs Wood has been questioned by persons within the ruling party, with its Chairman, Dr. Kwabena Adjei asking her to cleanse the Judiciary or the NDC will do it for her. This follows strings of defeat suffered by the Attorney General Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu in her bid to prosecute some members of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party. The critics among several other allegations cited the directive by the Chief Justice for a court to sit on week-end to hear a case brought before it by the NPP in 2008 when they sought an injunction on the Tain elections in 2008. They claim the CJ went beyond her remit in allowing a court to sit on a 'non-day'. A recent call by Gospel Evangelical Crusaders Church for the resignation of the Chief Justice appeared to have forced a response from her ladyship. The statement issued on Friday said the Chief Justice acted within the law and in accordance with the Judiciary’s pledge to deal with election related issues without delay. "The critical role the Justice system must resolutely and effectively play, is to address electoral disputes justly, firmly and effectually with minimum delay,” the statement said. “For well over a year, by lawful authority under the hand of the CJ, at least two courts sit every Saturday, which is a non –day, to hear cases involving Social Security defaulters,” the statement further explained. The statement also called on the critics to respect the sanctity of the Judiciary and asked them to follow due process in their bid to correct what they believe are wrongs within the judiciary. “It is therefore our expectation that the public will reciprocate our good gesture by offering useful suggestions, fair and constructive criticisms that will improve qualitative justice, the rule of law and boost public confidence in the judiciary; not otherwise. Scurrilous or vitriolic attacks on the person of judges, wicked and unfounded allegations, open and veiled threats against judges are just unacceptable, beyond the bounds of decency, and are indeed wrong approaches to expressing dissent if indeed they are genuine dissent in constitutional democracies…. The judiciary does not claim infallibility; we only ask that that our judges be treated with respect, civility and decency. We destroy our governance institutions and the reputation of others through unguarded, malicious or mischievous statements to our own disadvantage,” the statement said. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana