In response to Kiren Rijiju’s remarks, Manish Tewari asks: Is the government orchestrating a confrontation with the judiciary?
The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s recent comments regarding the judiciary on matters related to the Collegium system to bail applications raise the question as to whether the government is attempting to “orchestrate a confrontation with the judiciary”.
Tewari made the remarks during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha in response to Rijiju’s statement on Wednesday that a constitutional body like the Supreme Court should not hear bail applications and frivolous public interest litigation at a time when so many cases are pending.
It was recently stated by the Law Minister of the country that the Supreme Court should not hear frivolous petitions and bail applications. He also stated that Supreme Court judges take too many vacations, and questioned the process for appointing judges to the higher judiciary. This statement raises a very fundamental question. Does this government adhere to the principle of liberty? Does this government adhere to Article 21 of the Constitution? Are the government’s actions aimed at orchestrating a confrontation with the judiciary?” Tewari said.
While bringing up the issue of appointment of judges again on Thursday, Rijiju noted that there is a sentiment among Indians that the long vacations that the courts receive are not very convenient for justice-seekers.
In addition, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar recently referred to the striking down of the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act as a “severe compromise” of parliamentary sovereignty and a disregard for the “mandate of the people”.
