Farmers Movement Archive

Modi hails courts for upholding 'rule of law'

AHMEDABAD/ NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised judiciary for being alert in safeguarding the "rule of law" and individual liberties and prioritising the national interest when necessary. "As you all must be aware, the rule of law has been central to our civilisation, social fabric and traditions. In our ancient literature, it has been said that justice is central to good governance and the rule of law. These views are part of our sacraments for ages. This very mantra gave moral power to our freedom fight and this was kept supreme by the makers of Indian Constitution. The Preamble of the Constitution is the manifestation of this very pledge," the PM said while speaking at the diamond jubilee celebration of the high court of Gujarat, via video conferencing. His elaborate emphasis on the "rule of law" for which he cited a Sanskrit shloka, "nyaymulam suraajyam syat" (justice is in the roots of good governance), came amid ongoing protests against the three farm laws and demand for their repeal. The SC had last month stayed implemetion of the laws in question and had formed a committee to study them. "The responsibilities assigned to the legislature, executive and judiciary are a lifeline to our Constitution. People of the country can say with conviction that the judiciary has firmly safeguarded the lifeline of the Constitution. By creative and positive interpretation, our judiciary has strengthened the Constitution," the PM said and also hailed the Gujarat high court for its determination and alertness for years towards safeguarding truth and justice, which, he claimed, has strengthened the Indian judiciary as well as democracy. The PM said that whenever a situation arose where national interest was at stake or the people's rights or liberties were threatened, the judiciary understood its duties and discharged them responsibly. Modi expressed satisfaction over the swift embrace by courts of the digital infrastructure put in place by the law ministry's e-Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project. More than 18,000 courts have been computerised e-proceedings in court have gained momentum after the Supreme Court gave legal sanctity to tele-conferencing and video conferencing. PM Modi also released a commemorative postage stamp marking the completion of sixty years of the establishment of the Gujarat HC.

The Times of India

2021-02-07

India