Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had every right to tell the Supreme Court not to enter the realm of policy formulation in the context of the apex court recently asking the government to distribute foodgrains to the poor either free or at low cost , rather than allow it to rot, the Congress said on Monday.
“This is a legitimate oft-used submission by the Central executive — or State executive — often used before the apex court or for that matter any court, to say that there are limits to judicial review. It is said respectfully,” stressed party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, defending the Prime Minister's remarks to a group of editors he met on Monday. He then added that it was for the executive to accept or reject a submission by the court, as this was not an order, direction or judgment.
Playing down the Prime Minister's statement, Mr. Singhvi said, “I totally deny that the Prime Minister has rebuffed the Supreme Court. Those in the opposition, who are trying to sensationalise it as a rebuff to the SC, do not know how the judiciary and the executive function.”
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The government's decision not to accede to the Supreme Court's observations, the party spokesperson said, was based on legal, logistical and economic reasons.
When pressed to respond to questions on whether it was better to allow foodgrains to rot rather than give it to the most vulnerable, Mr. Singhvi said, “This government has done more for inclusive governance than any previous government.” He also denied that there was any contradiction between the government's commitment to providing food security and the Prime Minister's statement.