Puducherry: Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday that ‘the central government respects the judiciary because the independence of the judiciary is absolutely necessary’. Laying the foundation stone of a building for lawyers of Puducherry in the integrated court complex here to be built at a cost of Rs 13 crore, he said, “From the first day of my taking over as the Law and Justice Minister, I have been talking about justice, independence of the judiciary.” I am clear about my concept, vision and intentions. He said, ‘Our government respects the judiciary and the independence of the judiciary is also very necessary for a prosperous democracy.’
Rijiju said, ‘The judiciary works for the country and the legislature and the executive also work for the country. Without cooperation and coordination among them, we cannot make the country a great nation. He said that the judiciary, legislature and executive are not working in separate ways. The law minister said, ‘We work in different fields but with the same objective and we have very clear responsibilities in our hands as laid down by the Constitution of India.’ He said that the division of powers, respect for each other and the Lakshman Rekha have been clearly laid down and hence there should be no room for any dispute. The Law Minister said that his message to the judiciary is ‘that we will always respect the dignity and independence of the judiciary’.
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However, Rijiju expressed concern that “some people are making statements and adverse comments in this regard which are only harming the institution”. He said that during the last few days he has seen “some comments from eminent persons, eminent lawyers and some retired judges of the Supreme Court, from whom we are hopeful that they will contribute positively to the development of the country”. Rijiju said, ‘I have written to the Chief Justice about a very systematic collegium system for the appointment of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and it is very well guided by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.’
He said the bench had made very clear observations and directions to the collegium and the government in 2016 with regard to reorganizing the memorandum of procedure for appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts. However, it got delayed. Rijiju said, ‘But it is my duty to carry forward the order of the constitution bench of the Supreme Court. As long as the collegium system is there and until an alternative system comes and until the Parliament brings a new system, we will go ahead with the current system. It needs some updating and restructuring as per the directions of the Constitution Bench of the Court.
He said Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has requested a full bench of the High Court for the Union Territory. “We will take positive steps to provide this facility so that the petitioners from Puducherry need not go to Chennai for appeals or other judicial decisions,” he said. Rangasamy also addressed the program. He also stressed on the need to give statehood to Puducherry.
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Tags: Judiciary, Kiren Rijiju, supreme court of india
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 19, 2023, 23:03 IST
