The Congress on Monday latched on to Chief Justice of India TS Thakur’s remarks to hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party asked the Prime Minister to pay heed to the CJI’s statement wherein he expressed his disappointment over the Centre’s silence on judicial appointments.
The Congress said Justice Thakur’s remarks on the Prime Minister’s speech were “unprecedented yet starkly true”.
“The CJI questions Prime Minister Modi for deafening silence on judicial logjam in his Independence Day speech. Unprecedented yet starkly true,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted. He said the Prime Minister needed to heed the Chief Justice’s advice and not do petty politics on the issue.
“1.25 Billion Indians demand a solemn commitment to a fair justice system on I-Day Modi Ji! Please heed CJI’s advice. No petty politics. 75 names of HC judges cleared by SC stalled; Memorandum of Appointing Judges thwarted. Deliberate obstruction of justice by an obstinate PM,” Randeep Surjewala said in a series of tweets.
Amid continuing standoff between the judiciary and the Government, the Thakur expressed his disappointment that the Prime Minister did not make any mention about appointment of judges in his Independence Day address.
“I heard the popular Prime Minister for one-and-a-half hours... I expected some mention about justice also, about appointment of judges,” the Chief Justice said at a function in Surpreme Court lawns where law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was present.