I don’t think our ordinances are ultra vires: Sadananda Gowda, Union minister for Law & Justice

What’s broadly the tone of the discussions happening inside the Government on taking the ordinance route even for relatively non-urgent legislations?

There are broadly two issues here, administration and implementing our promises. There is resistance in the Rajya Sabha to everything we are trying to do. We want to do things and set them right quickly. The illegal colonies issue in New Delhi has been dragging on for very long, but there was still resistance in the Rajya Sabha to that. As for the land acquisition ordinance, every day is important to us. If we delay it any further, we won’t be able to take up projects due to the rainy season.

Do you agree with this categorisation of ‘ Ordinance Raj’?

We have also said this earlier about the Congress, when they were in power. It is the right of the Opposition to call the ruling party that, it is democratic. But I don’t agree with the categorization personally. These people don’t even have sufficient numbers to get the Leader of the Opposition post. Should we listen to them and do things? We have the mandate to rule and we will do it.

Don’t you think if some of these could be challenged in a court of law?

I will very clearly say that the judiciary is independent. And the legislature cannot override it. No law should not override the Constitution. We can do anything else that we want to. I don’t think any of our ordinances are ultra vires any act, provision should not be ultra vires to the Constitution. We can do anything else...