NEW DELHI: Speaking at a function organised by Supreme Court to celebrate the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution, PM Modi said, “In discharging the duties entrusted to me by the Constitution, I have always strived to remain within the boundaries set by the Constitution.”
The remark was possibly aimed at SCBA president and MP Kapil Sibal, who said that to protect the values of the Constitution and centrality of the people of India to governance, SC must keep reminding govt of the day about its duties to preserve the independence of the judiciary.
The PM said, “Some wise man raised this issue, that’s why I thought it fit to place my view. For this august gathering, a hint is enough and requires no elaboration.”
Modi began his speech by paying homage to victims of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and said while the country celebrates Constitution Day and pays homage to the framers of the Constitution, which remains the guiding light for his govt, “we must not forget the heinous terror attack on this day in 2008. I pay homage to those innocents who lost their lives.”
“I am reiterating the resolve of the country that every terror outfit which challenges the safety and security of the country will get a befitting response (muh tod jawab),” he said, hinting that the response of the then UPA govt to 26/11 was delayed and inadequate. The PM outlined the work of his govt in the last 10 years, and said: “Our aim is to provide a dignified quality of life to every citizen and achieve social justice.” “The humane values of Ram, Sita, Hanuman, Buddha, Mahavir and Nanak, whose pictures adorn the pages of the original Constitution, are at the core of our policies,” he said. Modi said Constituent Assembly chairperson Rajendra Prasad had said the country needed people at the helm of governance who do not want anything for themselves but keep the nation as the priority. He said his govt functions on the mantra of ‘nation first’.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna said judges while discharging their duties walk a razor’s edge and attempt a balancing act while deciding issues involving conflict between rights of people. He said faith of the people is foremost for the judiciary along with transparency, efficiency and accountability.
Referring to the oft-repeated political barb, “tyranny of unelected”, for constitutional court judges, the CJI said, “Imagine a world where judges campaign for votes, solicit views and decisions from the public and make promises about future judgments. This ensures that its decisions are unbiased, without affection or ill-will, free from external pressures and guided solely by the Constitution and the law. Therefore, it is said that administration of justice is the firmest pillar of governance.”
CJI Khanna said though pendency of cases has crossed the dreaded five-crore mark, the disposal rate of cases registered a remarkable 102% this year in trial courts and 97% in SC. The institution of an equally high number of cases shows the faith of people in the judiciary, and the rate of disposal reflects the efficiency of the justice delivery system, the CJI said. While Justice B R Gavai gave the welcome address, Justice Surya Kant gave the vote of thanks. Centrality of rule of law in justice dispensation was the overlapping themes of the brief addresses of both SC judges. Minister of state for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said the Constitution is a dynamic document that allows govt to achieve its objectives through policies for social justice.
