Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the judiciary for safeguarding people’s rights and personal liberty even during the most challenging times and prioritising national interests whenever the occasion demanded.
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Releasing a postage stamp at an online event to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Gujarat High Cour, Mr. Modi said the Supreme Court has conducted the highest number of hearings via video-conferencing in the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister asserted that the ‘rule of law’ has been the underlying principle not just while drafting the Indian Constitution but also the traditional ancient society. He said the Constitution guarantees justice as a matter of right for citizens, and the judiciary and the government should work together to create world class justice system.
‘Rights safeguarded’
“Our judiciary has always interpreted the Constitution positively and creatively to strengthen it further. Be it safeguarding the rights of people of the country or when any situation arose where national interest needed to be prioritised, the judiciary has always performed its duty,” Mr. Modi said.
Among those who participated in the online event included Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Supreme Court Judge Justice M.R. Shah, Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Justice Vikram Nath, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta and Advocate General of Gujarat, Kamal Trivedi.
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Justice Shah, who referred to Gujarat High Court as his karmabhoomi, thanked the Prime Minister for releasing the postage stamp and referred to him as a ‘visionary’ leader.
‘Special privilege’
“I am glad and feel proud and privileged to participate in this important function of release of commemorative stamp of Gujarat High Court on completion of its 60 years and that by our most popular, loved, vibrant and visionary leader, Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendabhai Modi. I consider it a very special privilege to be part of this function,” he said.
Stressing that the Gujarat High Court has always stood for the independence of the judiciary and respected the principle of separation of powers, Justice Shah said, “Even in the dark days of Emergency, judges of this court stood for the protection of human rights and independence of the judiciary.”
Apart from highlighting the role of technology in delivering justice during the pandemic, Law Minister Prasad reiterated the government’s commitment towards independence of judiciary as ‘total and absolute’.
