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India’s President asks judiciary to regulate itself
View(s):Says this will help the three organs of the Government “maintain a fine balance” essential for the success of a Parliamentary democracy
The success of a parliamentary democracy depended on “maintaining a fine balance” between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, President Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata on Sunday as he called upon the judiciary to come up with a mechanism to ” self-discipline itself” to maintain the balance.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the sesquicentennial celebrations of the Calcutta High Court on Sunday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish/the Hindu
“It is responsibility of the judiciary to innovate a mechanism to self-discipline itself and maintain the balance,” he said. Delivering the valedictory lecture to mark the conclusion of the Calcutta High Court’s sesquicentennial celebrations, Mr. Mukherjee said the “independence of the judiciary is sacrosanct.” “The judiciary is in a better position to control both the legislature and the executive. But neither of these two wings [executive and judiciary] has the power to control judiciary because that would simply be disastrous,” he said.
Pointing out that people had “very high expectations” from the judiciary, he said when its member dispensed justice they were looked upon as “representatives of a given divine power.” “Please ponder how you can come up to the expectations of the people. How you can make us proud to keep our heads high as the largest functional democracy of the world.”
The President praised the judiciary for taking up issues through public interest litigation, as a result of which”a man from the remotest part of the country can write a post card to the Chief Justice of largest functional democracy and can get justice.”
Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir, who also spoke at the event, urged members of the judiciary to deliver justice “tempered with sensitivity and social cause.” Referring to the pending cases before courts, he said though it was a cause for concern judges should not to go on a “disposal spree.” He urged judges to ensure dispensation of justice without letting quality suffer. “By disposing of matters without hearing people, without hearing counsels, you are doing more injustice than justice,” he said, adding the administration should ensure justice meted out by the courts was acted upon.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it would be better for people if “the legislature, executive and the judiciary work together.”- The Hindu
Upul urges India to protect Lankan pilgrims
Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Upul Jayasuriya has appealed to India that Sri Lankan pilgrims, including peasants and clergy who visit the sacred land of Buddhagaya be treated with respect and dignity.
He made the appeal in New Delhi in a speech at a felicitaion function of the Bar Council of India, heads and representatives of the state Bar Councils along with Justices Kurian Joseph and Kumar Sikriya. Mr. Jayasuriya said Sri Lanka was limping back to normalcy after 30 years of civil war. He said Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and several political leaders in Sri Lanka had been killed by terrorists.
“Sri Lankans should be treated with dignity and tolerance. In the circumstances, I urge that the Sri Lankan pilgrims consisting of innocent peasants and clergy who visit Buddhagaya and other sacred places be treated with dignity,” he said.
Mr. Jayasuriya was presented with a Plaque of Honour by India’s Bar Council President Manan Kumar Mishra in recognition of the invaluable services rendered to the Bar in Sri Lanka. At the same function two recent judges appointed to the Supreme Court of India — Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Kumar Sikriya — were also felicitated by the Bar Council of India.
Judges’ row: President acting on complaint
A complaint to President Mahinda Rajapaksa regarding the alleged assault and abuse by a Court of Appeal judge on fellow judges is being looked into, Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samranayake said yesterday.
The judge in question had reportedly attacked one of his fellow judges with a bottle of water and hurled abuse on other judges at the Bangalore Airport on April 23 following a dispute over baggage while they were returning after a conference.
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