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Political Notes |
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Judiciary to be made accountable
Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj has said that the Government is determined to ensure the passage of the National Judicial Commis¬sion Bill to bring about accountability in the Judiciary and to check corruption. He was responding to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the need for harmonious functioning of the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive on Dec. 4. The Government admitted that the authority of Parliament has been eroded in the recent past, even as it resolved to initiate measures on judicial accountabil¬ity.
Bhardwaj said the government is trying to build a consensus to ensure passage of the National Judicial Commission Bill. The Government has received the Standing Committee report on the Bill and will soon place it in the House for its consideration.
The Law Minister said, “This House is supreme. If the House resolves to restore the supremacy of Parliament, it can be done within two minutes.” He quoted the view of a former Chief Jus¬tice of India Patanjali Shastri that Parliament has plenary powers to amend the Constitution. He said the Government wants the pre-1993 status to be restored.
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had ruled in 1993 that the executive would have no role in the appointment of Judges. Since then, the appointments have been made on the basis of recommendations of a collegium of senior judges of the apex court.
Capital on high alert as ultras sneak in
The national capital, Delhi, was placed on high alert last week after Delhi Police received reports that six persons suspected to be militants of Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islamia (HUJI) had sneaked into the city. According to the Police, the militants had come to East Delhi from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh possibly to carry out attacks in the capital on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Dec. 6.
Earlier in the week, intelligence agencies had issued an alert that terrorists might strike in the capital in the first fortnight of this month.
During a short duration discussion in the Lok Sabha on Dec. 5, Members expressed their concern over increasing Maoist activi¬ty and other security issues. The BJP demanded that a POTA like law be introduced to check terrorist activities. The Left said that there should be a change in the Government’s approach to¬wards terrorism and domestic internal security issues. Congress members drew the Government’s attention towards the imminent dangers of unrest in the north east.
In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Dec. 4 that there are indications of money generated from the economy being used for terror funding. He said the Government was tracking at least one case of suspected terror-stained money on the bourses.
In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Opposition parties came down heavily on the state government on Tuesday, Dec. 4, for shedding responsibility and passing on the buck to the Centre on the issue of serial blasts in court premises. They demanded holding of an all-party meeting to discuss security lapses in the state.
Bhajan Lal deserts Congress, floats new party
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his son Kuldip Bishnoi have quit the Congress and floated a new state level party. They announced the decision to launch Haryana Janhit Congress at a rally in Rohtak on Dec. 2. Speaking at the rally Bishnoi accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of being what he called power hungry and “murdering democracy in the party by foisting Hooda as Haryana Chief Minister disregarding the wishes of party MLAs.” Bishnoi said he would quit his Lok Sabha seat in June next year.
The Congress on its part said, the breaking away by Bhajan Lal and his son would have no impact on the party.
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