No need to fear intolerance: Chief Justice of India

Top judge backs odd-even number plan, will follow it

Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said the raging row on intolerance in India was a “political issue”, and citizens had no reason to fear as the judiciary was “independent” and the rule of law prevailed.

“Yeh siyasi pahlu hain (This is a political issue). We have rule of law. So long as the rule of law is there, so long as there is an independent judiciary and so long as the courts are upholding rights and obligations, I do not think anyone has to fear for anything,” the CJI said while interacting with journalists Sunday.

Justice Thakur also virtually endorsed the Arvind Kejriwal government’s odd-even number scheme for the plying of private cars in the nation’s capital, saying it might reduce pollution. This was immediately welcomed by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is facing flak from several quarters over the matter.

Asked if Supreme Court judges would follow it and do car pooling, he said: “We would love to if it helps reduce pollution... There is no difficulty in this, I think it’s the bare minimum which we can do.” Asked specifically how the CJI would follow this, Justice Thakur said he could share a car with his next-door neighbour, Justice A.K. Sikri.