Constitutional morality cannot differ, should be defined with clarity: Law min
NEWDELHI: Igniting the debate on the idea of “constitutional morality” which the higher judiciary has held as the basis for several of its recent significant judgements, the Union law and information and technology minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad called on the judiciary to outline with clarity the nuances of this term.
“We hear a lot about constitutional morality; it should be defined with more clarity and it cannot differ from judge to judge”, said the law minister, on the occasion of the 69 th Constitution Day function held in the national capital.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said at the same event that it is in “our best interest” to heed the advice of the Constitution and warned that failing to do so would result in “sharp descent into chaos”. Restating the government’s long-standing grievance about the judiciary for encroaching into the domain of the legisla- ture and the executive , Prasad once again asked the judiciary to respect the line between the various organs of the government.the law minister requested the judges to introspect against the “temptation to encroach”.
In his address, Justice Gogoi said the Constitution is the voice of the marginalised as well as the prudence of the majority and continues to be a guide in moments of crisis and uncertainty.
President Ram Nath Kovind, who also spoke at the event said the Constitution formalised the segregation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature and has given all three pillars the legitimate rules and responsibilities to uphold the Constitution for realising its hopes and expectations.
“The duty of safeguarding and strengthening the Constitution is a shared enterprise among all three institutions, in partnership with the people of India,” he said.
He also called upon the judiciary to focus on providing social justice to the people .
“Social justice is about providing equal opportunities. If a child suffers from Asthama due to air pollution, it is lack of social justice,” said the President. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted people on the Constitution day, saying values enshrined in it must be followed in personal and public life.
Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the Constitution being adopted by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. It came into effect on January 26, 1950. Without naming anyone, Congress President Rahul Gandhi used the occasion to assert that those conspiring to destroy the Constitution should know that they neither have the capacity to do so nor would the Congress allow them to do anything.