New Delhi, November 26: On the occasion of Constitution Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the importance of separation of powers between the three arms of the government (legislature, judiciary and executive).
“Legislature should have the independence of making laws, the executive should have independence in taking decisions and Supreme Court should have the independence of interpreting the constitution,” PM Modi said while addressing a valedictory event in New Delhi on the occasion of National Law Day.
He further added that these three arms (legislature, judiciary and executive) should strengthen each other and not interfere in each other’s functioning.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who was also speaking at the event, expressed his dismay over the annulment of the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) and said, “If a PM and law minister cannot be trusted with appointment of judges its a huge question and judiciary and polity of his country will have to look into it.”
Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who was also present on this occasion countered the views expressed by Ravi Shankar Prasad and said the judiciary gave absolute respect to the Law Ministry and took its suggestions with mutual respect. CJI further added, “There should be no battle for supremacy among the three wings and that we are bound by the principle of constitutional sovereignty.”
“It is quite unfortunate that we have not been able to remove our internal weaknesses, so many years after independence. We need to think about it at all levels,” PM Modi said.
By relating a difference between heaven and hell, PM Modi said that those who work to serve their own interests can never make the nation prosper, adding that cooperation and empowering one another is the way of good governance.
PM Modi’s introspective remarks came a day after Chief Justice Dipak Misra and minister of state for law and justice PP Chaudhary exchanged barbs over the judiciary’s alleged encroachment upon the realm of policymaking.
PM Modi went on to hail the Constitution of India, saying that it has stood the test of time as a comprehensive tome which enshrines guidelines and instruction on every conceivable subject.
“Over the years, our constitution has passed each and every litmus test. People who raised doubts about the Indian constitution’s efficacy in dealing with challenges have been proved wrong,” he said.
“Baba Saheb Ambedkar said that Constitution is workable, flexible and has the power to unite the nation in times of war and peace. He also said if a wrong is done, it will not be the fault of constitution but the institution which is making people abide by constitution,” PM Modi said.
He also stressed on judiciary and the executive to work together to achieve the vision of New India by 2022.
