The Supreme Court on Monday disapproved of a remark made by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on the collegium system of appointing judges. Rijiju, at a TV event, had hit out at the mechanism to appoint Supreme Court and high court judges, saying the collegium system is “alien” to the Constitution.
“Mr Attorney General, I have ignored all press reports, but this has come from somebody high enough also with an interview… I am not saying anything else. If we have to, we will take a decision,” said Justice Kaul to Attorney General R Venkataramani who was representing the Central government. “We expect Solicitor General and Attorney General to ensure that law of the land laid down by this court is followed,” said the Supreme Court.
Speaking at the Times Now Summit here, the minister said the Constitution of India is a “religious document” for everyone, especially the government. “Anything which is alien to the Constitution merely because of the decision taken by the courts or some judges, how do you expect that the decision will be backed by the country,” he asked. Rijiju said the collegium system is alien to our Constitution. “You tell me under which provision the collegium system has been prescribed,” he asked.
Rijiju was responding to a question on government “sitting” on various Supreme Court collegium recommendations at a time when cases are piling up in courts.
The minister said there are loopholes in the collegium system and “people are raising voices” that the system is not transparent. “Also there is no accountability,” he added.
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