"Attempt To End Judicial Independence Is...": Former Supreme Court Judge

Former Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur also questioned Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent statements critical of the judiciary, saying they are "completely unprovoked" and therefore "shocking"

Efforts to infringe on the freedom of judiciary will not work, former Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur told NDTV today in the backdrop of the judiciary's escalating friction with the government on the subject of judicial appointments. He also questioned Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's recent statements critical of the judiciary, saying they are "completely unprovoked" and therefore "shocking".  

"There is no way the government can take away the independence of the judiciary through legislation or constitutional amendment," Justice Lokur said, when asked about former law minister Kapil Sibal's accusation that the government was trying to take away the "last citadel of freedom".   

"It (independence of the judiciary) is part of the basic structure of the constitution. Independence of judiciary is fundamental to democracy. So if there is any attempt to take away the Independence of judiciary by any means, it will be an assault on democracy," Justice Lokur said.   

In an interview with NDTV earlier today, Mr Sibal had said: "This (the judiciary) is the last citadel of freedom they have yet to capture. They captured all other institutions (pardon my saying) from the Election Commission to post of Governors to Vice Chancellors of universities to the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and of course the media."