CJI meeting judges a welcome move: Congress

As the Chief Justice of India met the four senior-most dissenting judges, political parties welcomed the initiative.

Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said the reported gesture of the Chief Justice in reaching out to the judges who had raised “pertinent issues concerning judicial administration in the Supreme Court is timely and welcome”.

He said issues concerning the highest judiciary must be resolved internally and the judges must come to an understanding on how to move forward in dispelling the ‘misgivings’ about its functioning.

“Undoubtedly, the issues raised that are now in public domain have dented the institutional integrity of the Supreme Court. The prestige and dignity of the court must be restored at the earliest,” said the practising Supreme Court lawyer.

Ever since the four judges voiced their differences with the Chief Justice last Friday, the government has maintained silence and called it an “internal issue” of the judiciary.

Neither Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad nor any other Minister has spoken on it.

CPI(M) stand

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told The Hindu that the issues raised were very important and must be settled.

“If the judiciary can do it themselves, it is good. But the issues are far too important and cannot be brushed under the carpet,” Mr. Yechury said.

Maintaining that there could be no compromise on the independence and integrity of the judiciary, he said, “It is the responsibility of all the three organs to ensure these issues are resolved and the integrity and independence of judiciary is strengthened.”