Law Minister Kiren Rijiju says need to 'think about' collegium system of appointment
Jaipur, Sep 17: Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday suggested there is a need to rethink the collegium system to expedite the process of appointment in higher judiciary as there are concerns about the existing process.
He said appointments in higher judiciary are "pending", but "not due to Law Minister but due to the system".
"There is a need to think about the collegium system so that appointments in higher judiciary can be accelerated," he said, speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of two-day Union of India Counsel (West Zone) Conference on 'Emerging Legal Issues-2022' at Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Later when reporters asked him about his remarks, he said, "The system which is in place is causing trouble and everyone knows it. Further discussion will be held about what and how it has to be done. I have put my views in front of everyone where judges, law officers and invitees were there."
Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, Rajasthan High Court acting Chief Justice MM Srivastava, Gujarat HC Chief Justice Arvind Kumar and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta also expressed their views in the inaugural session of the workshop.
Rijiju said, "If such issues are taken up in such conferences then people present come to know what's there in the mind of the law minister and what the government is thinking. I have expressed my views and I have also listened to their views."
He said he raised the issue in Udaipur as several "appointments in Rajasthan High Court have to be done and they are pending".
"The appointments are pending not due to the law minister but due to the system and that's why I have put forth (my views) in front of you," he said.
He also said additional solicitor generals would be appointed in all high courts so that the Government of India could be effectively represented.
He said courts in the country are being digitised which would help people get information about their cases.
He also said the government is taking effective steps to improve infrastructure at high courts and lower courts.
He also said the government is working towards setting up a law academy.
He said 4.85 crore cases are pending in the country and the justice system needs to work effectively to address this pendency.
Speaking as a special guest, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice SP Baghel said there will be ideological brainstorming at this conference, from which concrete decision will emerge on strengthening democracy and its institutions.
The even opened with a special message from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
