The Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Thursday endorsed the view of the Supreme court that the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC) was seen as an attempt by the ruling Government to affect the independence of judiciary.
Speaking at an event here, Justice Thakur said, “When we talk of democracy and do not talk of an independent judiciary, it would be like talking of a solar system without the Sun.” He was delivering the 37th Memorial lecture in honour of Bhimsen Sachar, a renowned freedom fighter who served as Chief Minister of Punjab and as Governor of two states before his death in 1978.
Addressing his speech on “Independent Judiciary: Bastion of Democracy”, the CJI said, “The judiciary faces both internal and external challenges. Of all dangers, the judiciary faces the most pernicious and danger from within. This relates to the lack of accountability and an erosion of credibility of judges.”
At the same time, he highlighted the external challenges that the judiciary faced. “A powerful Parliament will assert for a greater role in appointment of judges as seen in the past. An attempt was made to take away power from judiciary to appoint judges. This was seen by the judges of Supreme Court (a five-judge bench) as affecting their independence.”
Adding further, the CJI said, “NJAC was seen as an attempt to affect the independence of judiciary. Other threats such as curbing financial independence of judiciary and supersession of judges are not that direct (as appointing judges), but remain an incipient threat to the independence of judiciary.”
The audience comprised eminent lawyers, academics and the Sachar family and veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar presided over the event.