"Collegium System A Bigger Guarantee Against Centre's Tyranny": TMC MP Opposes Law Minister's Recent Remarks In Loksabha

The All India Trinamool Congress MP, Saugata Roy today in Lok Sabha opposed and challenged the recent remarks of the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju criticizing the Collegium System on the public forums.

"Not that it's perfect but the Collegium System of the Supreme Court is actually a bigger guarantee against the tyranny of power by the Central govt. Govt is trying to extend its power everywhere including Judiciary ...it's using a high dignitary to run down Collegium System," Roy said today in the Lok Sabha while defending the Collegium System.

However, Former Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad suggested that Roy's remark should be struck off.

It may be noted that recently, on at least 3 occasions, Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched attacks against the Collegium System by calling it opaque & Unaccountable, alien to the Constitution of India, and not backed by the citizens. Read more about his remarks here, here and here.

However, the comments of the Union Law Minister have not gone down well with the Supreme Court. For instance, while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Advocates Association of Bangalore against the Centre for breaching the timeline for judicial appointments, the Supreme Court today expressed disapproval of the comments made by the government functionaries against the collegium system.

The Top Court also told the Central Government that the collegium system is the "law of the land" which should be "followed to the teeth". "Just because there are some sections of society who express a view against the collegium system, it will not cease to be the law of the land", the Court added.

Read more about Supreme Court's remarks here: 'Collegium System Is The Law Of The Land, Must Be Followed' : Supreme Court Tells Centre; Asks AG To Advise Govt Of The Legal Position

Significantly, on the last hearing as well, i.e., on November 28, the Court had expressed dismay over the Law Ministers' comments against the collegium system. The Court had also urged the Attorney General and the Solicitor General to advise the Centre to follow the law laid down by the Court regarding judicial appointments.

The Supreme Court had reminded that names reiterated by the Collegium are binding on the Centre and that the timelines laid down for completing the appointment process are being breached by the executive.

Significantly, the remarks by Roy were made a day after the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar made critical comments about the Supreme Court's judgment which overturned the Constitutional Amendment passed to bring in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).