CJI says independence of judiciary is non-negotiable
Chief Justice of India, R M Lodha. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Asserting that the independence of the judiciary is “non-negotiable”, Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha on Saturday said that it has the inherent strength to foil any attempt to interfere with that. The government, on its part, also asserted that the judiciary’s independence is “sacred and sacrosanct” for it.
The remarks by Chief Justice Lodha have come against the backdrop of steps taken by the government to end the collegium system for higher judicial appointments. He did not make any direct reference to the law passed by Parliament ending the collegium system, but said no effort to take away the judiciary’s independence would succeed.
“I won’t speak on the issue (the bill) but I would touch upon the issue of independence of the judiciary, which is very dear to me. It is one thing which is non-negotiable,” Chief Justice Lodha said.
“Judicial independence is essential for maintaining public confidence that there is an institution which would come to their “aid and rescue in case of any wrong committed by the executive or anyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, responding to the remarks, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that several ministers in the current government had their “baptism” in the JP movement of the Seventies, followed by the Emergency.
“We fought in the Emergency for three reasons, individual freedom, media freedom and the independence of the judiciary,” he said.
In the Seventies, the judiciary’s independence was under severe threat. Therefore, we have suffered for the cause of the judiciary," he said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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