New Delhi | Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said that the government should not be attacked for seeking reconsideration of the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium as it didn’t commit a “cardinal sin.”
Addressing the media, Ravi Shankar Prasad said “This fact I would like to very gently highlight. Even in the collegium system architecture, created by the three judgements of 1993, 1998, 1999 and 2015 of National Judicial Appointments Commission Act (NJAC), the right of the government has been acknowledged to seek a reconsideration and also to give inputs.”
The statement of Law Minister has come after recent attacks from the opposition for interfering in the autonomy of the Judiciary after it rejected the Collegium’s recommendation for the elevation of Justice KM Joseph to the apex court.
“I would urge the political parties that we have enough space to settle our differences in the popular franchise, but those who have lost the political franchise should not use courts to target the ruling party through sponsored litigation.” Prasad told media while attacking the Congress Party.
He further added that “As regards to judicial appointments, I have few observations. We came with NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission). It was set aside and we’ve respected the judgement. But I wish to make it very clear that the law ministry or law minister is not a post office.”
Speaking on the dissatisfaction in the top position in the Judicial system, Prasad said “If there are differences in the judicial system let us trust the foresight and the statesmanship of the judiciary to settle it. I would ask the political parties to remain as immune as possible from the entire process. We must respect the institutional integrity of the judiciary.”
“We have a constitutional role and envisaged in the three judgments of the Supreme Court to convey our views.” he said while highlighting the government is rightful in seeking reconsideration of the Supreme Court Collegium.
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