'Majority of people have similar sane views': Kiren Rijiju backs ex-judge remarks that SC 'hijacked' Constitution
In the video of the interview, the retired judge said the right to frame laws lies with Parliament and the apex court cannot frame laws as it does not have the right to do so.
Total Views |
New Delhi, January 23: In what could escalate the ongoing tussle between the Centre and the judiciary over the Collegium system, Law Minister Kiren 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.
In the video of the interview, the retired judge said the right to frame laws lies with Parliament and the apex court cannot frame laws as it does not have the right to do so.
The Executive and judiciary have been at loggerheads over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts. Rijiju had earlier described the collegium system to appoint judges as something "alien" to the Indian Constitution.
Seeking to support the views of Justice RS Sodhi (retd), a former judge of the Delhi Court, Rijiju said that it is the voice of the judge and that majority of people have similar "sane views".
In the video of the interview, the retired judge said the right to frame laws lies with Parliament and the apex court cannot frame laws as it does not have the right to do so.
"... Whether you can amend the Constitution? Only Parliament will amend Constitution. But here I feel the Supreme Court for the first time 'hijacked' the Constitution. After 'hijacking' they (SC) said that we will appoint (judges) ourselves and the government will have no role in it," Justice Sodhi said in Hindi.
एक जज की नेक आवाज: भारतीय लोकतंत्र की असली खूबसूरती इसकी सफलता है। जनता अपने प्रतिनिधियों के माध्यम से स्वयं शासन करती है। चुने हुए प्रतिनिधि लोगों के हितों का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं और कानून बनाते हैं। हमारी न्यायपालिका स्वतंत्र है लेकिन हमारा संविधान सर्वोच्च है।
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 22, 2023
Sharing the video, Rijiju tweeted that "actually majority of the people have similar sane views. It's only those people who disregard the provisions of the Constitution and mandate of the people think that they are above the Constitution of India."
All the three organs of our State i.e Legislature, Executive and Judiciary must work together in the larger interest of the nation.
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 22, 2023
"Real beauty of Indian Democracy is its success. People rule themselves through their representatives. Elected representatives represent the interests of the People & make laws. Our Judiciary is independent and our Constitution is Supreme," he added.
The Executive and judiciary have been at loggerheads over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and the high courts. Rijiju had earlier described the collegium system to appoint judges as something "alien" to the Indian Constitution.