Few judges part of ‘anti-India gang’ trying to turn judiciary against government: Union minister Kiren Rijiju

Few judges part of ‘anti-India gang’ trying to turn judiciary against government: Union minister Kiren Rijiju

Retired judges who are part of an “anti-India gang” are forcing the judiciary to play the role of an Opposition party, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju said Saturday.

“Recently there was a seminar on accountability of judges. But somehow the entire seminar became how the executive is affecting the judiciary. There are few judges who are activists and are part of an anti-India gang which is trying to turn judiciary against the government like the Opposition parties,” Rijiju said.

“Some people even go to the Supreme Court and say please rein in the government. This cannot happen. Judiciary is neutral and judges are not part of any groups or political affiliations. How can these people openly say the Indian judiciary (should) take the government head on?” Rijiju added.

The law minister was speaking at the India Today Conclave in Delhi. “Anybody, if Rahul Gandhi or anybody says that the Indian judiciary has been hijacked or that democracy is over in the country…the judiciary is dead, what does it mean? There is a calibrated effort to undermine the Indian judiciary. That is why day in and day out they are trying to say the government is trying to take over the Indian judiciary,” Rijiju said.

Invoking the constitutional “lakshman rekha” between different institutions, Rijiju asked if judges become part of administrative appointments, who would carry out judicial work. The statement was in response to a question about the Supreme Court’s March 2 decision on the appointment of Election Commissioners.

“The appointment of Election Commissioners is prescribed in the Constitution. Parliament has to enact a law. Accordingly, the appointment has to be done. I agree that there is no enactment for that in Parliament, there is a vacuum,” he said. “But what I am saying is that if the CJI or judges of India sit on every important appointment, who will carry forward the judiciary’s work?” he added.

Rijiju also criticised the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to make public both its reasons for reiteration and the government’s objections on certain names recommended for appointment of judges.

“I have some names with me now and every name has lots of complaints by colleague judges, the public, by associations and by the Bar. I do not make it public. If a judge has written an adverse comment against another judge, I am not supposed to make it public. There has to be some probity in public life,” he said.