Highly deplorable is the latest move by the despotic Narendra Modi government to craftily encroach and undermine the independence of the Judiciary by giving the Attorney General a say in the appointment of Supreme Court Judges and to the Advocate Generals on High Court Judges. Today the Attorney General and the Advocate Generals are sheer political appointees. By giving them a say in the appointment of judges, the Judiciary will end being a mouth piece of the government and the Courts will lose all relevance ending up as dens of chicanery and jugglery.
The Constitution of India is very clear on the distinct roles of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. It envisages a free, fair and independent Judiciary. While there is need of concerted efforts towards propping up standards of judicial accountability, there is a very disturbing disquiet over the slippery slope on which judicial values are slithering. The highest standards of judicial independence must be ensured by warding off even the faintest trace of governmental influence on the judiciary. The hotline enabling communication between Politicians and Judges compromises and ruptures the very sovereignty of the Judiciary. This Government is deviously trying to do something indirectly, what it cannot do directly.
