Courts have ‘Lakshman rekha’ too, says Prasad

Responding to members claiming that the Supreme Court was getting into the domain of law-making through some of its verdicts, the government told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the principle of separation of powers is as binding on the judiciary as it is on other pillars of democracy.

Stating that while the legislature will formulate law, the executive will execute it and the judiciary will interpret the law, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “If it is binding on all, sorry to say, it is equally binding on the judiciary.”

The law minister said in his view, Parliament is supreme, while the judiciary has the right to interpret laws.

The government also said if the country can trust the Prime Minister with the nuclear button, plays a key role in appointment of President, vice-president, Chief Election Commissioner and CVC, why can’t he be trusted for appointing excellent people as judges through his law minister.

To a question on live telecast of court proceedings, Mr Prasad said online transmission will create a “psychological pressure” but there were “logistical problems” also involved.

He said while live telecast of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings was easy, it was difficult to do so in thousands of court rooms. But the suggestion of the member was worth considering, he added.

Responding to a question on pendency (of cases), the minister said the government does not interfere in their functioning. But he would inform the judiciary of the concerns expressed by members of the House.