Law Minister Kiren Rijiju ruled out any discord between the government and judiciary and said that a “difference of opinion” between the two should not be construed as “an attack” on each other.
Stressing that “debate or discussion” is an important part of democracy, Rijiu, who has been vocally criticising the Collegium system lately, said that there can be a difference of opinion but that does not mean the two are attacking each other and a “Mahabharat” is going on as is being projected by some.
Addressing a gathering at the Tis Hazari courts complex in Delhi to mark Republic Day, he asked that asked if there is no debate or discussion in a democracy, “what kind of democracy is it”.
He said if the Supreme Court has some views and the government has some views and if there is a difference between the two opinions, “some people present it like a Mahabharat is going on between the government and the judiciary. It is not like that…we have no problem among us.”
‘Judges don’t face public scrutiny’
Rijiju also said as judges are not elected, they do not face public scrutiny but people watch them and make assessment about them from the way they deliver justice.
Stressing the need of a “robust and independent” judiciary, he said if the independence of the judiciary is diluted and its honour and authority are weakened, democracy cannot succeed.
He further said in the BJP, it is said that we can have “matbhed” (divergence of opinion) but not “manbhed” (discord). “We can have different opinions. Difference in opinion does not mean we are mounting an attack on each other,” he said, PTI reported.
The Executive and judiciary have been at loggerheads over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts.
Rijiju on Sunday shared an interview of a retired high court judge who said the Supreme Court “hijacked” the Constitution by deciding to appoint judges itself.
Seeking to support the views of Justice RS Sodhi (retd), a former judge of the Delhi Court, he said that it is the voice of the judge and that majority of people have similar “sane views”.
The Law Minister had earlier described the collegium system to appoint judges as something “alien” to the Indian Constitution.
He also wrote to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud earlier this month, suggesting the inclusion of government representatives in the Supreme Court collegium that decides on judges’ appointments.
