New Delhi: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has made sensational comments that some judges in the country have become part of the anti-India gang. In the same vein, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court commented that the CJI does not want to make arguments, that the collegium system is working well in the appointment of judges, and that the judiciary should be protected from outside influences if it is to be independent.
First Published Mar 18, 2023, 11:11 PM IST
CJI DY Chandrachud-Union Minister Kiren Rijiju: Once again the differences between the Central Government and the Judiciary have arisen. Recently, the central government has been criticizing the increasing judicial interference in the appointment and administration of judges. Many times already, the Union Law Minister has directly targeted the judicial system and criticized it. Once again, many comments were made on the judges. Some judges in the country have been accused of being part of an anti-India gang. In the same order, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice DY Chandrachud, made comments in support of the Collegium. He pointed out that he does not want to make arguments, that the collegium system is working well in the appointment of judges, and that the judiciary should be protected from outside influences if the judiciary is to be independent.
Law Minister Kiran Rijiju participated in the India Today conference held in the national capital Delhi on Saturday. In this sequence, he said, some retired and activist judges who are provoking anti-India sentiments have made frequent comments that they are pressuring the judiciary to play the role of the opposition. The collegium system was criticized as a proof of Congress’ audacity. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice DY Chandrachud also participated in this program and made comments in support of the collegium, a mechanism for appointing judges with the aim of protecting the independence of the judiciary. “Not every system is perfect, but this is the best system we have developed,” commented CJI on the Coliseum.
CJI DY Chandrachud said that there is a need to completely modernize the Indian judiciary. He said that there is a need to completely modernize the Indian judicial system and that court proceedings are already being telecasted live. He also mentioned the possibilities of using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for the translation of judgments. Also, the collegium revealed the reasons for the government not accepting the names recommended for appointment as judges, highlighting the Centre’s comments on the matter. He said that there is no need to argue with the Union Minister in this matter. He said that if the Union Minister has an opinion, he will have an opinion and there is nothing wrong with it. He said that these are normal things in the judicial system. He said that there will be no government interference or pressure in the judgments.
However, Kiran Rijiju said… “Some of the retired judges… maybe three or four are part of the anti-India gang… who are trying to make the Indian judiciary play the role of an opposition party.” Rijiju said the judiciary has no role in initiating and finalizing judicial appointments. It was only after that because of the audacity of the Congress party that the Supreme Court started acting, and some described it as a violation of the judiciary. Then the Coliseum system came into existence, he commented. Stating that the collegium system will remain in place until the new system is introduced, Rijiju clarified that judges cannot be appointed through a judicial order, it is purely administrative. If the Supreme Court interferes with the executive appointments, who will care about the judiciary, he asked.
