Supreme Court express anguish over Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's remarks on Collegium
Says Centre sitting on Collegium recommendations frustrates whole system
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Monday expressed deep anguish over the Centre not clearing the name proposed by the Collegium for the appointment of judges.
The SC bench while hearing the case added that the Centre sitting over the recommendations and not clearing them resulted in upsetting the whole system.
"The issue is, names are not being cleared. How does the system work? We have expressed our anguish. It appears that the Govt is not happy that the NJAC has not passed muster. Can that be the reason for not clearing the names?" the division bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul wondered.
Recently, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Collegium system at the Times Now Summit adding that the Collegium system was alien to the Constitution of India and was not backed by the people of the country.
“The Government can't be expected to merely approve the names recommended by the collegium.” The Minister had stated.
Justice Kaul said that people may have reservations about the law (Collegium system). But till it stands, it is the law of the land.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, brought to the attention of the bench the scathing comments made by the Law Minister that "never say that the government is sitting on the files, then don't send the files to the government, you appoint yourself, you run the show then".
Expressing disapproval of the Minister's comment, Justice Kaul said: "When someone high enough says that..it should not have happened..Mr AG, I have ignored all press reports, but this has come from somebody high enough also. With an interview... I am not saying anything else."
"The whole process takes time, and IB inputs are taken. Your inputs are taken. Supreme Court collegium considers your inputs and sends the name. Once it is reiterated, that is the end of the matter, as the law stands now." Justice Kaul said.
Justice Kaul, therefore, asked the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to convey the "sentiments of the bench" to the Govt and ensure that the law of the land is followed. The matter has been kept for December 8.
"Both of you are senior enough to convey the sentiments of the bench to the Govt. Please resolve the issue, don't force us to decide on the judicial side", Justice Kaul told the Attorney General and the Solicitor General. The judge reminded them that the bench had exercised restraint by not issuing a contempt notice.
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89 killed as storm, rain batter UP; relief work underway
Lucknow (PTI): At least 89 people were killed after a strong storm and heavy rain pounded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and electric poles and damaging houses, according to the Relief Commissioner's office.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives and damage caused by the unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday and directed officials to ensure relief reaches the affected families within 24 hours.
In a post on X on Thursday, the Relief Commissioner's office said, "Due to bad weather on May 13, including storms, rain, hailstorm and lightning, reports of 89 deaths, 53 injured persons, 114 livestock losses and damage to 87 houses have been received in the state, which has been taken cognisance of by the Hon'ble Chief Minister."
It said the chief minister has directed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify the incidents "with full sensitivity" and ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families within 24 hours while establishing direct communication with them and extending other necessary help.
The Relief Commissioner's office said it is continuously monitoring the situation through direct coordination with district officials and necessary funds are being made available to districts.
According to a list issued by the Prayagraj district administration, seven deaths were reported in the Handia area, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon, two in Meja and one in Sadar due to the storm and rain.
In Bhadohi, district administration sources said at least 16 people died in storm-related incidents.
Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said trees and electric poles were uprooted in several areas while many houses were damaged in the storm.
Fatehpur Additional District Magistrate Avinash Tripathi said nine people were killed and 16 injured in storm-related incidents in the district.
"Eight people, including five women, died in Khaga tehsil, while a woman died after a wall of a house collapsed in Sadar tehsil," he said.
In Pratapgarh, four people died in separate incidents of wall and cemented shed collapses and lightning strikes amid strong winds and rain, officials said.
Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhukar said Bhim Yadav (25) died after he was trapped under the debris of a cemented shed that collapsed in Ojha Ka Purwa village in the Lalganj Kotwali area.
He said Bhushan Pandey (56) died after a wall collapsed in Sari Swami village under the Baghrai police station area.
Bhukar said Shanti Devi (46) of Narangpur village and Lal Bahadur (44) of Chhatrapur Shivala Raghna village also died in storm-related incidents.
In Kanpur Dehat district, two persons died in rain-related incidents, the officials said.
Police sources said a 19-year-old woman, Ruchi, died after being struck by lightning in Bhauthari village under the Rasulabad area while standing under a neem tree with goats during heavy rain. Several goats also died in the incident.
A 60-year-old man standing nearby was injured, they added.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Dushyant Kumar said reports regarding human and livestock losses have been sought from local officials and financial assistance will be provided as per government rules.
In Deoria, Komal Yadav (62), a resident of Bhimpur Gaura village, died after being struck by lightning, district administration sources said. Two others were injured in the incident.
In another incident, Ramnath Prasad (65), a resident of Neruari village, died in a lightning strike.
In Sonbhadra district, Madhav Singh (38) died after being trapped under a tree uprooted during the rain and the storm.
Adityanath directed the district magistrates and officials of various departments to visit the affected areas and provide all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
He also instructed the officials to remain alert and ordered the revenue and agriculture departments, along with insurance companies, to conduct a survey of the damage and submit a report to the government.
