Rijiju invokes ‘Lakshman Rekha’

NEW DELHI: As the Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold the application of sedition law, Union Law minister Kiren Rijiju invoked “Lakshman Rekha” guiding different institutions, including the Executive and the Judiciary, and said no one should cross their “boundary”.

Responding to queries by reporters soon after the top court gave its directions, Rijiju said: “We respect each other. The court should respect the government, and the legislature, so the government also should respect the court. We have a clear demarcation of boundary and that ‘Lakshman Rekha’ should not be crossed by anybody.”

In its significant order on the sedition law that has been under intense public scrutiny, a bench headed by CJI N V Ramana said there was a need to balance the interest of civil liberties and the interests of citizens with that of the State.

Addressing the joint conference of Chief Justices of the high courts and the chief ministers here on April 30, the CJI had also highlighted the significance of ‘Lakshman Rekha'.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Rijiju had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had directed that the provision of the sedition law be re-examined and reconsidered and the government will “suitably” take into account the views of stakeholders and ensure the sovereignty and integrity of the country is preserved while looking into Section 124A of the IPC.

Rijiju had said he feels that it is a “bold” step taken by the government and that making laws is the government's responsibility.