Indian Judiciary Can Never Be Forced To Play The Role Of Opposition Party : Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju

Indian judiciary can never be forced to play the role of an opposition party though "some people" want it to play such a role, said Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Sunday.

"Some people want to force the judiciary to play the role of an opposition party. Indian judiciary will never accept this. I can tell you Indian judiciary itself will resist these forceful attempts to make Indian judiciary play the role of an opposition party. It can never happen", the Minister said while speaking at the Central Government Law Officers' Conference at Bhubaneshwar.

"Independence of judiciary does not mean it is anti-government", he added. The Minister alleged that a particular group wants judiciary to take up certain matters which are purely executive in nature. "Recently, I was amazed to see some seminar by some group of people with a particular mindset and the only discussion in that seminar was that the government is attacking the Indian judiciary. Can anyone tell one instance where our present government has disregarded Indian judiciary? You cannot and we will never".

The Minister also expressed concerns at personal attacks and name-callings against judges in social media.

"It is unfortunate that there are abuses in the social media platforms about the judges, calling names etc. If government is attacked, if the government is being criticised, it is welcome. In democracy governments must be questioned. But it is not the right thing or a good sight when judiciary comes under any kind of accusations or attacks. I personally want as the Minister for Law and Justice that the Judiciary must be aloof. Judiciary must be far away from public criticism", he said.

He said that the legal fraternity and citizens must resist the "mischievous efforts to malign the Indian judiciary and the Indian state".