V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar: Constitutional institutions have own role, should not play role of others

Underlining that mutual respect among Constitutional institutions can only be ensured when they remain within their jurisdiction, he, however, maintained that he has the highest regard for the judiciary. “I would say something with pain. In our Constitution, two positions are supreme. One is of the President of India and another is of the governor. They are supreme because their oath is not like that of mine, a chief minister, MP, minister, MLA of any judge,” said Dhankhar.

While others take an oath of “abiding by the Constitution”, the President or a governor take oath to “protect, preserve and defend the Constitution” and “serve the people of the country or the state”, he said.

“We have to respect the Constitution in letter, in spirit,” he said. Public representatives, he said, are chosen as an outcome of the sentiments expressed by 140 crore Indians and they are held accountable through elections by the people of the country.

“It is our bounden duty to ensure our constitutional institutions have respect for one another and respect arises when they confine to their own areas, respect one another. Our Constitution does not envisage confrontation among the institutions and calls for coordination, collaboration, discussion, deliberation, dialogue and debate,” he said.

Just like the legislature cannot deliver judgements, which are given by courts, laws cannot be made by the courts and therefore the judiciary must refrain from that domain, he said.