Members oppose judiciary interference in legislature

The Rajya Sabha on Friday saw members raising voices against the alleged “encroachment” by judiciary on the rights of legislature, as the Upper House bid farewell to 53 members.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley also pressed the need for preserving supre-macy of Parliament in the making of law and budgets.

“This House (Rajya Sabha) and the Lok Sabha has the primacy in law-making and budget-making. Law-making and budget-making cannot be decided by any third party,” Mr Jaitley said, in an apparent reference to the judiciary.

In his speech, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav said Parliament members are concerned over “encroachment” on legislature’s rights by judiciary. Constitution, he said, has given the Parliament the right to legislate laws and make the budget.

In her farewell speech, Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai said Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have left a rich legacy which should not be forgotten. Her remarks were seen in an apparent reference to the allegations that the ruling BJP was trying to erase Nehru’s legacy from textbooks.

Earlier, Chairman Hamid Ansari said parting is painful and more so when it involves a colleague and friend. He said every member retiring has “contributed significantly”.

Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said politicians don’t retire and end of term in RS does not mean retirement from public life. While some may come back, others may change positions.

JD(U)’s K.C. Tyagi said he would now be able to make long speeches, which were not allowed in the House by the Chair and may even use unparliamentary words.

SP’s Kanaklata Singh gave an emotional farewell speech in which she said people in politics should realise that it is a means to serve people.

He added, “If the right to law-making and budget-making goes out of here, it will weaken parliamentary democracy as well as democracy itself.”

He said the “seriousness” of this issue has to be considered by all segments of the society.

“I believe that the maturity of institutions in the country will one day decide the way forward keeping the logic of Constitution-makers in mind,” the Union minister said.

Earlier, the House saw one of the veteran leaders and senior Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai urging the BJP-led NDA government to preserve the country’s identity of “unity in diversity” and brotherhood.

“If the judiciary does it, what is our relevance ” he said, asking the government to discuss the issue during the monsoon session of Parliament.

He said the Parliamentary honour, strength and supremacy has to be maintained as the “Constitution has drawn clear lines.”

He found support from BSP’s Mayawati who said “we should act unitedly, especially on important issues” and rise above political affiliations.

“We would have to look within why judiciary is taking advantage..We should act unitedly and especially on important issues we should rise above political affiliations,” the BSP supremo said.

DMK’s K.P. Ramalingam said he represented the farmers and called for having a separate budget for the agriculture sector.

Congress’s V. Hanumantha Rao raised issues pertaining to development of Andhra Pradesh and sought their early resolution.