New Delhi, January 25: Amid running battle between the Executive and Judiciary over the appointments of judges, Union law minister Kiran Rijiju on Tuesday said that ot was a matter of grave concern that the Supreme Court collegium put certain portions of sensitive reports of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in public domain.
“Intelligence agency officials who work in a secret manner will think twice in future if their reports are made public,” Rijiju said while speaking to reporters.
Rijiju was responding to questions on the Collegium resolutions that contained portions of the IB and RAW reports regarding some advocates who were recommended for appointment as judges of High Courts.
“Putting sensitive or secret reports of IB and RAW in public domain is a matter of grave concern on which I will respond at an appropriate time,” the Union law minister added.
When asked if he would sensitise the Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, Rijiju said, “The Hon’ble Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary. We meet often. We are in touch. I am the bridge between the government and the judiciary. We have to work together, not in isolation.”
Rijiju contended that matters of appointment of judges were administrative matters and the government functionaries commenting on issues such as National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) did not amount to lowering the dignity of the judiciary.
It may be recalled that in an unprecedented move on January 20, the collegium made public the Centre’s objection to the appointment of advocates Saurabh Kirpal, Somashekar Sundareshan and John Satyan as the judges of the High Court of Delhi, Bombay and Madras respectively.
While reiterating their names, the collegium objected to Mr Kirpal’s openly gay status, and concerns about critical social media posts against the Modi government by the other two advocates.
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