Some retired judges part of anti-India gang, want judiciary to play the role of opposition: Kiren Rijiju
Same ecosystem, same language: Rijiju
Rijiju alleged, ‘Anti-India forces inside and outside India use the same language that democracy is in danger, human rights do not exist in India. Rahul Gandhi also uses the same language that this anti-India gang says. He said whatever Rahul Gandhi says is propagated and broadcast with a ‘loud voice’ by the ‘same ecosystem’.
Rijiju said, ‘The same ecosystem is working inside and outside India. We will not allow this ‘tukde-tukde gang’ to destroy our integrity and our sovereignty. He said that recently a seminar was organized in Delhi, in which some retired Supreme Court judges and some senior advocates were present and the theme of the seminar was ‘Accountability in the appointment of judges’. He said, ‘But the whole day the discussion kept on how the government is taking the judiciary under its control.’
‘Part of four-five retired judges anti-India gang’
The Union Minister said that he shares an excellent relationship with the present Chief Justice of India, former Chief Justices and all Supreme Court Judges. Rijiju said, “Among the retired judges – there are probably three or four judges and some activists who are part of the anti-India gang – these people are trying to make the Indian judiciary play the role of the opposition party.” He said, ‘Some people even go to the court and say please rein in the government, please change the policy of the government. These people want the judiciary to play the role of the opposition party, which cannot be possible. He said that the judiciary is neutral.
“The judges are neither part of any group, nor do they have any political affiliation with any group. How can these people openly say that Indian Judiciary should be face to face with the Government. What kind of propaganda is this?
‘Collegium will remain till new system comes’
Asked if any action was being taken against such elements, he said, “Action will be taken, action is being taken as per law.” No one will be able to escape. On the issue of appointment of judges, Rijiju said the judiciary has no role in initiating and finalizing the appointment of judges. “It happened only because of the mistakes of the Congress party and later the Supreme Court started acting in what some people term as judicial overreach,” he said. After that the collegium system came into existence.
But as of now, the government’s position is very clear that the collegium system is in place, he said. “Until a new system is implemented, we will follow the collegium system, but judges cannot be appointed by a judicial order,” he said. It is purely administrative (decision).
