Cong backs Mamata on judiciary
16 Aug 2012 6:36 AM IST
The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's stand on having a clean and independent judiciary won backing of the Congress, with whom she has not had best of relations in recent times. Even though a section of the media tried to project her statement at an Independence Day function as painting the whole judiciary as corrupt, the senior Congress leader and union law minister Salman Khurshid said, 'I do not know in what context that statement was made. But, I do believe that her intention would be that the independence of the judiciary should be protected.'
Khurshid further said, 'Sometimes you have to straighten the internal system, so that accountability contributes to independence rather than it becoming a problem for independence. I am sure that that is the context.'
The Trinamool Congress chief, while talking to Millennium Post, said categorically on Wednesday, 'I never tried to imply that the entire judiciary was corrupt. My main focus was primarily on the state funding of elections. Also, I want the country to have a clean judiciary. I would also want to work towards the strengthening of democracy and freedom of the people of the country first, in order to reach out to them and address their issues.'
Banerjee expressed concerns about 'the growing trend of corruption in the judiciary'. She also said that there have been instances where certain judicial commissions and bodies given orders beyond the purview of their mandate.
Earlier on Tuesday, she had said, 'At times, favourable verdicts are given in return for money. There are instances when judgements have been purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary. I know there can be a case against me for saying this. But, this must be said and I am ready to go to jail for saying so.'
Elucidating on this statement, Banerjee told Millennium Post, 'I have always advocated a clean judiciary in the country, as it is the last resort for the common man. I never tried to imply in any way that the entire judiciary was corrupt.'
Khurshid further said, 'Sometimes you have to straighten the internal system, so that accountability contributes to independence rather than it becoming a problem for independence. I am sure that that is the context.'
The Trinamool Congress chief, while talking to Millennium Post, said categorically on Wednesday, 'I never tried to imply that the entire judiciary was corrupt. My main focus was primarily on the state funding of elections. Also, I want the country to have a clean judiciary. I would also want to work towards the strengthening of democracy and freedom of the people of the country first, in order to reach out to them and address their issues.'
Banerjee expressed concerns about 'the growing trend of corruption in the judiciary'. She also said that there have been instances where certain judicial commissions and bodies given orders beyond the purview of their mandate.
Earlier on Tuesday, she had said, 'At times, favourable verdicts are given in return for money. There are instances when judgements have been purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary. I know there can be a case against me for saying this. But, this must be said and I am ready to go to jail for saying so.'
Elucidating on this statement, Banerjee told Millennium Post, 'I have always advocated a clean judiciary in the country, as it is the last resort for the common man. I never tried to imply in any way that the entire judiciary was corrupt.'
Next Story
