I hang my head in shame: Kapil Sibal on state of judiciary
The Hindu
Kapil Sibal said Emergency was declared by virtue of powers that were provided for in the Constitution.
Expressing concern over the current state of the judiciary, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Sunday said some members of the institution have "let us down" and "I hang my head in shame" for what has happened in the recent past.
In an interview with PTI, Mr. Sibal also said that in recent years, free speech, and how it has been interpreted by the Supreme Court, unfortunately, is not allowed the space that is constitutionally permissible to it.
Attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said there is a "de facto emergency" in place with "throttling" of institutions. The rule of law is "infringed'' on a daily basis, he alleged.
Mr. Sibal also said the present dispensation wants an 'Opposition-mukt Bharat' not just a 'Congress-mukt Bharat'.
Asked about the arrest of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, Mr. Sibal said that the more worrying larger issue was that some members of the judiciary have "let us down".
"Some members of the institution (judiciary) of which I have been a part for 50 years have let us down. I hang my head in shame that this has happened. When the judiciary turns a blind eye to ex facie violations of the rule of law one wonders why an institution designed to protect the rule of law allows the rule of law to be infringed with open eyes,” Mr. Sibal told PTI over phone from the UK.
Talking about the arrest of Zubair and the denial of bail to him by a Delhi court, he said that for a tweet four years ago without any communal outcome, it is "unthinkable" for that person to have been arrested.
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