News Analysis India

Tag: Kiren Rijiju

  • Prioritise use of local languages in courts: Rijiju

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday stressed the need to prioritise the use of regional languages in the curricular activities of courts across the country to make justice accessible to the common man. He added that court orders should be published in the local language.

    Delivering his speech at the 12th convocation ceremony of Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University here, the Union Minister said he is against the imposition of only one language. “I have already spoken to the Chief Justice of India, senior judges of the Supreme Court, and all the Chief Justices of the High Courts, that in the future we must give priority to the regional languages,” he said.

    Speaking at the event, Rijiju showered praises on the Tamil language. “We all will be proud to see that the Tamil language takes centre stage in the high court, as well as district and subordinate courts,” he added.

    According to the minister, the Union government is working to create a common vocabulary, in all Indian regional languages, for words utilised in legal documents and legal glossaries would be digitised. With this technological advancement, instant translation of court proceedings to local languages would be possible, he further said.

    Rijiju expressed concern over pending cases in courts across the country. The Centre is taking measures to ensure the availability of all infrastructure in courts, he said. Meanwhile, on the occasion, Governor RN Ravi —also chancellor of the varsity — called upon the law students to help the society. 

    NEW DELHI: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday stressed the need to prioritise the use of regional languages in the curricular activities of courts across the country to make justice accessible to the common man. He added that court orders should be published in the local language.

    Delivering his speech at the 12th convocation ceremony of Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University here, the Union Minister said he is against the imposition of only one language. “I have already spoken to the Chief Justice of India, senior judges of the Supreme Court, and all the Chief Justices of the High Courts, that in the future we must give priority to the regional languages,” he said.

    Speaking at the event, Rijiju showered praises on the Tamil language. “We all will be proud to see that the Tamil language takes centre stage in the high court, as well as district and subordinate courts,” he added.

    According to the minister, the Union government is working to create a common vocabulary, in all Indian regional languages, for words utilised in legal documents and legal glossaries would be digitised. With this technological advancement, instant translation of court proceedings to local languages would be possible, he further said.

    Rijiju expressed concern over pending cases in courts across the country. The Centre is taking measures to ensure the availability of all infrastructure in courts, he said. Meanwhile, on the occasion, Governor RN Ravi —also chancellor of the varsity — called upon the law students to help the society. 

  • BJP ideologue told me Nehru being vilified is one thing, but Hari Singh being exalted takes the cake

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said he spoke to a BJP ideologue about Union minister Kiren Rijiju’s criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru on the Kashmir issue and was told that Nehru being vilified is one thing, but erstwhile ruler Hari Singh being exalted as a benevolent hero “takes the cake”.

    Rijiju had stated that Nehru’s “blunders”, which included enacting Article 370 and taking the dispute with Pakistan to the United Nations, caused much tragedy, drained the country’s resources and cost thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians in militancy.

    “I spoke to a BJP ideologue this morning about Kiren Rijiju, the latest entrant to the club of Distorians,” Ramesh said in a tweet.

    “He (the BJP idealogue) sent me the following message: The strange thing is, Nehru being vilified is one thing, Hari Singh being exalted as some sort of upright & benevolent hero takes the cake,” the senior Congress leader said without naming the “BJP ideologue”.

    Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He signed the Instrument of Accession to India.

    Rijiju wrote an article for a portal citing “five Nehruvian blunders”, including floating the idea of a plebiscite and terming Jammu and Kashmir’s accession provisional.

    The minister had said it was important to realize past mistakes to build a new future and added he has not tweaked history but stated facts to set the record straight.

    The Congress on Saturday demanded an apology from Rijiju over his criticism of Nehru’s handling of the Kashmir issue and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in ministers from making “irresponsible statements”.

    Slamming Rijiju, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma had said, “I can only pity the mental bankruptcy of minister Rijiju. He has no understanding of history, there is no proof, no evidence.”

    “I would say the prime minister should rein in ministers from making such untrue, false and irresponsible statements as have been made in this regard.

    The account of that period in 1947 has been carefully documented not by one but more than one person who were directly associated with the merger of princely states,” Sharma told reporters on Saturday.

    The BJP on Thursday had used the 75th anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India to slam Nehru for his “blunders” on the issue and asserted that Prime Minister Modi corrected them by nullifying Article 370, which granted the erstwhile state special rights.

    The Congress had hit back at the ruling party, saying its leaders have no idea of contemporary history and that they must account for what has happened under its rule there rather than blaming Nehru and other former prime ministers.

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said he spoke to a BJP ideologue about Union minister Kiren Rijiju’s criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru on the Kashmir issue and was told that Nehru being vilified is one thing, but erstwhile ruler Hari Singh being exalted as a benevolent hero “takes the cake”.

    Rijiju had stated that Nehru’s “blunders”, which included enacting Article 370 and taking the dispute with Pakistan to the United Nations, caused much tragedy, drained the country’s resources and cost thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians in militancy.

    “I spoke to a BJP ideologue this morning about Kiren Rijiju, the latest entrant to the club of Distorians,” Ramesh said in a tweet.

    “He (the BJP idealogue) sent me the following message: The strange thing is, Nehru being vilified is one thing, Hari Singh being exalted as some sort of upright & benevolent hero takes the cake,” the senior Congress leader said without naming the “BJP ideologue”.

    Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He signed the Instrument of Accession to India.

    Rijiju wrote an article for a portal citing “five Nehruvian blunders”, including floating the idea of a plebiscite and terming Jammu and Kashmir’s accession provisional.

    The minister had said it was important to realize past mistakes to build a new future and added he has not tweaked history but stated facts to set the record straight.

    The Congress on Saturday demanded an apology from Rijiju over his criticism of Nehru’s handling of the Kashmir issue and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in ministers from making “irresponsible statements”.

    Slamming Rijiju, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma had said, “I can only pity the mental bankruptcy of minister Rijiju. He has no understanding of history, there is no proof, no evidence.”

    “I would say the prime minister should rein in ministers from making such untrue, false and irresponsible statements as have been made in this regard.

    The account of that period in 1947 has been carefully documented not by one but more than one person who were directly associated with the merger of princely states,” Sharma told reporters on Saturday.

    The BJP on Thursday had used the 75th anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India to slam Nehru for his “blunders” on the issue and asserted that Prime Minister Modi corrected them by nullifying Article 370, which granted the erstwhile state special rights.

    The Congress had hit back at the ruling party, saying its leaders have no idea of contemporary history and that they must account for what has happened under its rule there rather than blaming Nehru and other former prime ministers.

  • Union Law Minister writes to CJI UU Lalit to name his successor

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India UU Lalit’s office on Friday received a communication from the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju seeking his recommendation on the appointment of the next top judge.

    “As per the MoP on appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges, today the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for appointment of his successor,” the tweet by the Union Ministry of Law & Justice said.

    As per the MoP on appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges, today the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for appointment of his successor.

    — Ministry of Law and Justice (@MLJ_GoI) October 7, 2022

    Justice Lalit who took oath as the 49th CJI on August 27 will demit office after a short tenure of almost 74 days on November 8.

    According to the convention, the incumbent CJI recommends the senior-most judge as his successor. As per the seniority norm, Justice DY Chandrachud who was appointed as SC judge in 2016 is in the line to be appointed as the 50th CJI.

    There’s also a Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) which governs the process related to appointment of judges in the higher judiciary as per which the outgoing CJI initiates the process of naming the successor pursuant to getting a communication from the Law Ministry. The Minister has to seek recommendation of the CJI at the appropriate time but the Memorandum doesn’t elaborate or specify the timeline.

    The Memorandum says that “after receipt of the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs will put up the recommendation to the Prime Minister who will advise the President in the matter of appointment”.

    Justice Chandrachud, son of the 16th and longest-serving Chief Justice of India, Justice YV Chandrachud if appointed would have a tenure of almost two years.

    He was designated as Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court in 1998 and thereby served as the Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 to 2000. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay HC on March 29, 2000 and took oath as CJI of Allahabad HC on October 31, 2013.

    On 29 March 2000, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. He took oath as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court on 31 October 2013.

    NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India UU Lalit’s office on Friday received a communication from the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju seeking his recommendation on the appointment of the next top judge.

    “As per the MoP on appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges, today the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for appointment of his successor,” the tweet by the Union Ministry of Law & Justice said.

    As per the MoP on appointment of Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court Judges, today the Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice sent a letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for sending his recommendations for appointment of his successor.

    — Ministry of Law and Justice (@MLJ_GoI) October 7, 2022

    Justice Lalit who took oath as the 49th CJI on August 27 will demit office after a short tenure of almost 74 days on November 8.

    According to the convention, the incumbent CJI recommends the senior-most judge as his successor. As per the seniority norm, Justice DY Chandrachud who was appointed as SC judge in 2016 is in the line to be appointed as the 50th CJI.

    There’s also a Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) which governs the process related to appointment of judges in the higher judiciary as per which the outgoing CJI initiates the process of naming the successor pursuant to getting a communication from the Law Ministry. The Minister has to seek recommendation of the CJI at the appropriate time but the Memorandum doesn’t elaborate or specify the timeline.

    The Memorandum says that “after receipt of the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs will put up the recommendation to the Prime Minister who will advise the President in the matter of appointment”.

    Justice Chandrachud, son of the 16th and longest-serving Chief Justice of India, Justice YV Chandrachud if appointed would have a tenure of almost two years.

    He was designated as Senior Advocate by the Bombay High Court in 1998 and thereby served as the Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 to 2000. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay HC on March 29, 2000 and took oath as CJI of Allahabad HC on October 31, 2013.

    On 29 March 2000, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. He took oath as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court on 31 October 2013.

  • Law minister slams ex-SC judge for remarks on lack of freedom of expression 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has hit out at former Supreme Court judge Justice B N Srikrishna for his remarks on lack of freedom of expression, saying those who speak without restrictions to abuse a popularly elected prime minister are crying about freedom of expression.

    Responding to a tweet which quoted a portion of an interview given by Justice Srikrishna (retd) to a national daily, Rijiju said,  “Those people who speak all the time without any restrictions to abuse the popularly elected Prime Minister are crying about freedom of expression! They will never talk about emergency imposed by Congress party and never dare to criticise some Regional Party CMs.

    “The former top court judge had said that today things are “very bad.

    “I must confess, if I were to stand in a public square and say I don’t like the face of the Prime Minister, somebody might raid me, arrest me, throw me in jail without giving me any reason. Now that is something that all of us oppose as citizens,” the former Supreme Court Judge had said.

    In a series of tweets on Saturday, the law minister said he does not know whether a former judge of the Supreme Court has actually said this.

    “If it’s true then the statement itself is demeaning the institution he has served,” the minister said without naming anyone.

    NEW DELHI: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has hit out at former Supreme Court judge Justice B N Srikrishna for his remarks on lack of freedom of expression, saying those who speak without restrictions to abuse a popularly elected prime minister are crying about freedom of expression.

    Responding to a tweet which quoted a portion of an interview given by Justice Srikrishna (retd) to a national daily, Rijiju said,  “Those people who speak all the time without any restrictions to abuse the popularly elected Prime Minister are crying about freedom of expression! They will never talk about emergency imposed by Congress party and never dare to criticise some Regional Party CMs.

    “The former top court judge had said that today things are “very bad.

    “I must confess, if I were to stand in a public square and say I don’t like the face of the Prime Minister, somebody might raid me, arrest me, throw me in jail without giving me any reason. Now that is something that all of us oppose as citizens,” the former Supreme Court Judge had said.

    In a series of tweets on Saturday, the law minister said he does not know whether a former judge of the Supreme Court has actually said this.

    “If it’s true then the statement itself is demeaning the institution he has served,” the minister said without naming anyone.

  • Law minister Rijiju expresses concern over rise in pending cases in courts

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the speed at which the number of pending cases is rising in various courts of the country is a matter of concern.

    He also said the increase in pending cases does not mean that matters are not being heard or disposed of, rather it is because the number of fresh cases is double than cases being settled daily.

    He was addressing the inaugural function of the new office premises of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Raipur bench in the Central Secretariat building, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.

    “When I assumed charge as Law Minister there was around 4.50 crore pending cases (in various courts). That number has reached over 4.50 crore and will touch 5 crore. (However) it does not mean that cases are not being disposed of but the number of new cases is double the cases being settled. For example, if a High Court settles 300 cases in a day, 600 fresh cases come up for hearing”.

    “It is needed to closely understand this. The rate of disposal of cases has increased and the effective use of technology is helping in the speedy settlement of cases. But the speed at which the number of pending cases is increasing is worrying. Business is increasing therefore disputes are rising. If there is no business then there would be no cases. In a way, it is a positive thing but there should be some solution to the positive development,” he said.

    Rijiju also hailed ITAT and said it has reduced its pendency of cases during coronavirus-enforced lockdowns.

    Underlining that timely delivery of justice should be done, otherwise delayed justice has no value, the Union Minister said, “During my interaction with judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts I have told that we (his ministry) are ready to extend all support but it should be ensured that timely justice is delivered to people. There should be no distance between justice and common people”.

    He said details of pending cases will be put up online. “(the details will include) the court in which the case is being heard and for how long, the reason for the pendency, the name of the concerned bench and lawyers. This will put pressure on judges and lawyers,” the law minister said.

    Rijiju also informed that a big proposal on e-courts is in the offing. He also emphasised the use of local languages in the court.

    “I get worried. I have seen since my childhood that in our country, some people who know English think they are big, smart and knowledgable. “It’s good to learn English as well as other languages too. There is no loss in doing so. It has been seen in Delhi that lawyers who know good English get big cases in the Supreme Court and High Court, but those who don’t know (good English), don’t get cases.

    This is not good. You don’t give them cases because they don’t know English. This mentality is very bad. In tribunals, there should be a provision of translation,” he said.

    Union Minister of State of Law and Justice SP Baghel, Raipur Lok Sabha MP Sunil Kumar Soni and ITAT president GS Pannu were present on the occasion.

    Later talking to reporters, Rijiju appealed to the Chhattisgarh government to take advantage of funds allotted to the state for the development of infrastructure for subordinate courts and help people get speedy justice.

    Speaking on inflation, he targetted the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh and said the Centre has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel twice and similarly, the state government should take steps to control the price rise and reduce tax (VAT) on these fuels.

    Queried about the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he refused to comment saying this is a serious issue and it will have to be explained in detail.

  • 168 proposals for HC appointments at various stages of processing between government, SC collegium: Kiren Rijiju

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Against 387 vacancies in various high courts, 168 proposals are at various stages of processing between the government and the Supreme Court collegium, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

    In a written reply, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also said recommendations from various high court collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 219 vacancies.

    He said the sanctioned strength of judges of the 25 high courts has increased from 906 in 2014 to 1,104 in 2022.

    “As on March 31, 2022, against the sanctioned strength of 1,104 judges in the high courts, 717 judges are in position, leaving 387 vacancies of judges to be filled,” he said.

    Against 387 vacancies, 168 proposals are at various stages of processing between the government and the Supreme Court collegium.

    Recommendations from high court collegiums are yet to be received in respect of 219 vacancies, he noted.

    He also said that the Registry of Supreme Court has compiled data on the status of judicial infrastructure and court amenities.

    A proposal has been received from Chief Justice of India for setting up of National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI) for arrangement of adequate infrastructure for courts, according to which there will be a governing body with CJI as patron-in-chief.

    “The other salient features of the proposal are that NJIAI will act as a central body in laying down the road map for planning, creation, development, maintenance and management of functional infrastructure for the Indian court system, besides identical structures under all the high courts.

    “The proposal, as received from the Supreme Court of India, has been sent to the various state government/UTs, as they are important stakeholder, for their views on the contours of the proposal to enable taking a considered view on the matter,” he said.

  • No proposal of biometric authentication for voting under consideration: Government

    There is no proposal of biometric authentication for voting under consideration of the government, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

  • Some try to glorify English speakers: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju takes dig at Rahul Gandhi’s speech

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a veiled dig at some opposition members who lauded the speech of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha, saying some people prefer to glorify English speakers by keeping Western views in mind.

    At least two Lok Sabha members had on Thursday lauded Gandhi’s remarks on centralisation of power under the BJP government, contending that he had accurately reflected the pulse of the people of the country. “Many MPs spoke brilliantly and beautifully in Parliament, but some prefer to glorify English speakers by keeping Western views in mind,” Rijiju tweeted in Hindi.

    कई सांसदों ने संसद में बहुत ही शानदार और खूबसूरती से बात की थी, लेकिन कुछ लोग पश्चिमी विचारों को ध्यान में रखकर अंग्रेजी बोलने वालों का महिमामंडन करना पसंद करते हैं।
    — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 4, 2022
    Participating in the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the president’s address on Thursday, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) member ET Mohammad Basheer said “I am of the opinion that if we have to give a thanks message or a resolution of thanks, it should be given to Rahul Gandhi. His speech yesterday (Wednesday) was the real reflection of the pulse of the Indian people.”

    Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) member NK Premachandran said he concurred with Gandhi that India is not a kingdom, but a union of states, and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of branding everyone opposing its programmes as “anti-national”.

  • BJP takes umbrage to Rahul remarks

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and other BJP leaders on Wednesday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in Lok Sabha on the judiciary and Election Commission and demanded an apology.

    “I condemn what Mr Rahul Gandhi has said about India’s judiciary and EC. These are vital institutions of our democracy. Mr Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the people, judiciary and EC,” Rijiju wrote on Twitter.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar pointed out that Rahul’s statement had factual errors. “In Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said we could not get a foreign guest for Republic Day. Those who live in India know we were in the midst of a corona wave. The five Central Asian Presidents, who were to come, did hold a virtual summit on Jan 27. Did Rahul Gandhi miss that as well?”

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to Twitter. “Mr Rahul Gandhi, those who prefer to feed biscuits to dogs in the presence of leaders from Assam and then offer them the same biscuits should be the last people to talk about political decency. High command mindset is INC’s be all and end all. The people of India know it well.”

    Congress leaders jumped to Rahul’s defence. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said an attempt is being made to abolish institutions and implement the rule of one person in the country. “The gap between rich and poor is increasing.

    The Modi government is focussed only in the service of the big capitalists,” Gehlot tweeted. He added that Rahul, while raising the voice of the states, spoke the truth that the Central government does not believe in dialogue with the states. “The Centre takes unilateral decisions without consulting the states. People have found out about BJP’s repressive policies.”

  • What Hamid Ansari said is wrong: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on ex-VP’s ‘cultural nationalism’ remarks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday hit out at Hamid Ansari for his remarks over Hindu nationalism, saying what the former vice president has said is “wrong” and as a member of the minority community he can proudly say that India is the safest nation.

    At a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on Wednesday, Ansari and four US lawmakers had expressed concern over the current human rights situation in India. “What Hamid Ansari ji said is wrong..I belong to a minority community and I can proudly say that India is safest nation. Minorities facing trouble in any of our neighboring countries prefer to seek refuge in India because India is safe. Let’s be grateful to our great nation,” Rijiju said in a series of tweets.

    Some isolated incidents do take place at individual-community level but Indian culture is always inclusive. PM @narendramodi Ji’s mantra is SABKA-SAATH SABKA-VIKAS SABKA-VISHWAS SABKA-PRAYAS.Before 2014, communal riots and violence were regular but India is more peaceful now.
    — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) January 28, 2022
    Participating in the panel discussion from India, former vice president Ansari had expressed his concern over the rising trend of Hindu nationalism.

    “In recent years, we have experienced the emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism….It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith, give vent to intolerance, insinuate otherness, and promote disquiet and insecurity,” he had alleged.

    Countering Ansari, Rijiju said some isolated incidents do take place at individual-community level “but Indian culture is always inclusive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s mantra is sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayas”.

    Before 2014, communal riots and violence were regular but India is more peaceful now, the Union minister said. “Why some people who enjoy the best freedom and privilege in India join the anti-India propaganda peddled by foreign based anti India forces? What’s the satisfaction that they acquire by defaming India? At least, people in remote villages without facilities are loyal to motherland,” Rijiju said in a dig at Ansari.