Under fire, AAP says move to meet judges ‘to better system’

Former Power Minister and Congress Leader in the House Haroon Yusuf termed the incident shameful. “This is a shameful incident. How can the law minister cast aspersions on the law secretary? He reportedly said the law secretary was working with the previous regime, which is completely unacceptable,” Yusuf said.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said, “Law minister is supposed to teach us law. But it seems he has some learning to do.”

In his reply to the House, Kejriwal said, “For us, the judiciary is sacrosanct and we believe that it should be independent and our intention was not to hurt their independence. I had asked for an appointment to meet the Delhi Chief Justice as we would like certain measures to be taken to make the judiciary more efficient. I was supposed to meet him but could not go.”

His law minister Bharti sought to downplay the episode. “I asked for the meeting and not for the judges to come and meet me in my cabin. And I am also a lawyer and I know the independence of the judiciary is supreme,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyers in Delhi also condemned Bharti’s move, stating that the judiciary was not under the control of the executive and political authority.

“All district courts and judicial system is under the administrative control of the Chief Justice of Delhi. The executive or political authority cannot issue directions to the judiciary and, accordingly, the stand of the Law Secretary of the Delhi government is absolutely as per norms. If the minister wants to convey anything regarding administration of justice, he can meet the Chief Justice but cannot call a meeting of judicial officers,” advocate R N Vats, president of the Delhi Bar Association, said.