Sunday Edition

'Basic structure can't be dismantled to protect only judiciary's independence'

PTI

Continuing his criticism of the quashing  the NJAC Act, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said doctrine of  basic structure, including elected government and parliament’s sovereignty,  cannot be “dismantled” to save only independence of judiciary and  favoured reconsideration of the verdict. “Of course, I have been vocal in my comments about recent judgement  on the NJAC. I think at some stage in future, we need to reconsider  it. When the law says that the President shall appoint (judges) in  consultation with the Chief Justice, to say that this law actually  means that the Chief Justice will appoint virtually without consulting  anyone, is the opposite of what the Constitution says. “And to base it on a logic that an institution can be saved only by exclusivity of exercise of power by judiciary, elected representatives,  can’t be trusted. I think to say, the least, is not a fair argument,” the Minister said.