Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju during a ceremony to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in New Delhi on January 23, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Amid the ongoing controversy between the Executive and the Judiciary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on January 23, 2023 said that the judges do not have to contest elections or public face scrutiny after they become judges.
Though the public cannot change the judges, Mr Rijiju asserted that judges are under being watched by the public for their judgments, delivery of justice and their conduct.
Speaking at an event organized by Delhi Bar Association, Mr Rijiju said that politicians are elected and then made to loose every five years. But judges remain on the chair forever. He added that people criticize politicians and even reject them during polls but judges don’t have to face such scrutiny or contest polls.
“But, the people are watching you and judging you as well. Your judgments, how you dispense justice. People are watching this and forming opinions,” said Mr Rijiju.
Since the day Mr Narendra Modi took oath of office as Prime Minister and he [Mr Rijiju] took charge as Law Minister, “the government hasn’t done anything that harms the judiciary or is against constitution”.
He added that the BJP government respects the Constitution in letter and spirit.
“PM Modi has started his work after taking oath of the constitution. He maintained that Constitution is the most sacred book for India and he will run the country on the basis of path shown by the Constitution,” said the law minister.
Mr Rijiju also shared said that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) had asked him to check the online targeting of judges on social media platforms.
“CJI asked us to take some stern steps against people who are commenting on judges. I have taken his suggestion and we are considering it. But when people are criticizing at a “mass-scale” what can we do?,” he said.
The minister also said that some people are projecting the current situation — where there are difference between the government and judiciary — as if a ‘mahabharat’ is going on in the country.
“This is not true. We constantly keep meeting each other. CJI and I are in constant touch and we have discussions on all small and big issues,” he said.
“The differences are always there. I come from political party which has always said ‘Matbhed ho sakte hai, man bhed nahi hona chahiye’. I wrote a letter to CJI on 6th Jan, which is my duty, there was no need to publicly announce what’s written. It’s a part of procedure.
The Law Minister maintained that there is no problem between judges, lawyers or the government and added that the BJP government will work in a way to bring an environment in the country that the young lawyers look up to a great and successful career ahead.