The tussle between the judiciary and the centre is becoming uglier as the Law ministry has recently attacked the judiciary over the appointment of judges. Earlier on Saturday, the Judiciary-Centre spat worsened as the leading judges slammed the centre, warning it not to interfere in its matters and asked it not to pass any laws intended to outline and diminish the independence of the judicial system of the country.
Judiciary-Centre Spat- Attorney General asks the judiciary to remain in the ‘Lakshman Rekha’
Reciprocating to the judges’ warning, the Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted the discrepancies in the judicial system’s working and pointed out its shortcomings in the times when it was required to act diligently in times of emergency.
“All, including the judiciary, must recognise there is a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and be ready for introspection.”
-Attorney General, Mukul Rohtagi
The judiciary has been blaming the centre for the delay in the appointment of judges in the legal sector, while the centre has denied the blame and shifted it to the apex court mentioning the indifference of the judiciary to take the necessary steps to speed up the process for the same.
“Supreme Court failed us during the Emergency and all high courts showed great courage. Courts may quash the order of the government; courts may set aside a legislation but the governance must remain with those who are elected to govern.”
-Union Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad
The apex court has not decided on the names for the seven vacancies for the post of judge in the Supreme court itself, thus the appointment is being delayed. The rift between the executive and the judiciary is over a year old and only worsening as the time passes. While the two are steadfast on their footing, there seems no way the matter can be resolved anytime soon.
