BJP MP attacks judiciary over "extra-constitutional activism"

NEW DELHI: A BJP member in Lok Sabha today criticised the judiciary over its "extra-constitutional judicial activism", saying it makes various institutions accountable but does not take responsibility for clearing the backlog of cases.

Udit Raj spoke against a recent Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict which has set aside the quota in promotion for the SCs and STs in state government services since 2002 and demanded its rollback.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he said the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had brought an amendment in support of reservation in promotions which was validated by the Supreme Court later.

The member used the judgement to deprecate the judiciary and drew support from many others in the House.

"Extra-constitutional judicial activism has been harming the poor... it has stopped a lot of developmental work," he said, adding that the judiciary has been not able to clear the backlog of cases even though it is independent to appoint judges.

The judiciary blames the central government for something or the state governments for something else, Raj said while also objecting to the references made to the President by the Uttarakhand High Court while hearing a plea against the President's rule in the state.

Kantilal Bhuria (Congress) used the High Court order to attack the Modi government and questioned if its "secret agenda" was being executed through the courts.

"Government is doing nothing," he said, demanding that the Centre take up the matter to ensure that "injustice" is not done to the beneficiaries of quota in promotions.

Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) had also recently in the Lok Sabha made a strong pitch for putting a stop to the "running commentary" by the judiciary against other organs of the State.