New Delhi : National Informatic Center (NIC) which provides email services to Apex Court was ordered to take down Modi’s images from the footer of emails originating from Supreme Court and fill the blank space with Supreme Court’s Image.
Since the launch of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav central government has been going all out to promote the initiative, to mark 75 years of Independence next year. But now the advertisment of of Azadi Ka Mahotsav are being questioned. Ads for the event with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in emails sent to advocates by the Registry of the Supreme Court.
Several advocates confirmed that the images were included as part of email signatures and said this blurred the line separating the judiciary and executive.
On Thursday evening the Registry of the Supreme Court came to know about this ads of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav are being used on Supreme Court emails footer. carrying a government tagline with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image. A clarificatory note issues by the Supreme Court said the image being carried as an email footer had “no connection whatsoever with the functioning of the judiciary”. The court immediately directed the NIC to drop the image and the banner from the emails.
The court directed the NIC to fill the blank space left by the dropped picture and tagline with an image of the Supreme Court.The NIC has compiled with the directions given by Supreme Court.
Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the three branches government, legislature and judiciary lead a separate, independent existence. Judicial independence is recognised under the Constitution so that judges can perform their duties of office with neither fear nor favour.
The statement was issued hours after a lawyer red-flagged the ads in a message on the WhatsApp group of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association.
“Sir, I have received this notice from the Registry with a snapshot of the Prime Minister. The same does not seem to be in order of the Supreme Court’s position as an independent organ and not a part of the government. Request you to kindly take up the same with the Hon’ble Chief Justice with a note of protest if you deem appropriate,” the message said.
Asked about the ads in emails, Senior advocate Chander Uday Singh described them as “highly objectionable”. “The Supreme Court and all other courts of India are not government offices and not intended to be used as propaganda machinery of the government,” Singh said.
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