Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna has expressed her concern about the involvement of state governors in legal disputes before constitutional courts. She was addressing a program organized in a university in Hyderabad.
Justice Nagarathna stressed the imperative for Governors to follow constitutional principles rather than requiring instructions on their actions. He commented, “The recent trend of Governors engaging in litigation over their actions or inactions is not consistent with the spirit of the Constitution. The office of the Governor is an important constitutional responsibility, and Governors should do everything within their power to mitigate such legal situations.” Must work within.”
Justice Nagarathna appreciated the ongoing efforts of the Supreme Court to strengthen the democratic foundation of the country. He praised former Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit for setting up Constitution benches expeditiously to dispose of important and long pending cases.
Reflecting on his dissent in the demonetization case, he expressed his sympathy for the common citizen affected by the sudden currency withdrawal. He expressed concern about the effectiveness of the demonetization policy in curbing black money, citing the inflow of unaccounted cash into the system.
Addressing recent judgements, Justice Nagarathna acknowledged some leniency in the Supreme Court’s stance with regard to the Enforcement Directorate’s obligation to provide written grounds for arrest in money laundering cases. They also discussed the Court’s evolving approach to reproductive rights issues, cautioning against polarizing debates, and emphasizing the complexities involved in decisions related to medical termination of pregnancy.
Finally, he reflected on the transformative journey of the Supreme Court in 2023, stressed the vital role of the judiciary in upholding justice and urged collective commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
Retired Supreme Court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe, Nepal Supreme Court Justice Sapna Malla and Pakistan Supreme Court Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, among other dignitaries, also contributed to the discussion during the programme.