New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has emphasized that the judiciary’s role is to scrutinize laws and not to act as the opposition in Parliament.
His remarks came in response to recent comments by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who suggested that the opposition was fulfilling the roles of the media, investigative agencies, and the judiciary.
In an interview, Chandrachud clarified, “People should not presume that the judiciary should perform the role of the opposition in Parliament or State legislatures. Our duty is to scrutinize laws and ensure that executive actions are consistent with the law and the Constitution.”
Chandrachud further explained that the judiciary’s function is distinct from that of the political opposition. “There is a separate space in a democracy for the political opposition. The judiciary is not to be used as a platform for political purposes,” he added.
The former CJI also addressed the scrutiny of interactions between judicial figures and politicians, noting that informal conversations are natural after official meetings. “After official discussions, it is normal for judges to engage in informal conversations, just like any other human beings,” he said.
