Bhagwant Mann-Kejriwal duo intimidating judiciary to subvert Constitution : Chugh

Bhagwant Mann-Kejriwal duo intimidating judiciary to subvert Constitution : Chugh

Chandigarh 7 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : BJP National Headquarters In-Charge and MP Tarun Chugh today put Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal in the dock for allegedly violating constitutional provisions and attempting to intimidate the judiciary. Taking strong exception to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s boycott of the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chugh termed it a shameful disgrace to democracy and launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann Government over its reported opposition to the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He said that turning a judicial appointment into a political controversy appears to be part of a deliberate strategy of the AAP government.

Chugh said, “The Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal duo is already working on a ‘Defame First’ operation against the judiciary. They are creating an atmosphere to discredit the judiciary first and are now trying to turn its appointment process into a political controversy.” He said that under the AAP Government, political control is increasingly being extended to constitutional institutions. “For nearly five years, Punjab has been struggling with corruption, administrative failures and a deteriorating law and order situation. Now, instead of answering for its failures, the AAP Government is dragging constitutional institutions into political confrontation.” Chugh said Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann appear determined to exercise political control over every institution, but “the High Court is not an AAP mohalla committee where the party can sit together and decide who will head it. The Constitution has clearly defined the domain, dignity and limits of every institution. AAP cannot repeatedly cross those constitutional boundaries.”

He said judicial independence is a fundamental pillar of democracy and must remain insulated from political pressure. Turning the appointment of the Chief Justice into a political confrontation undermines the dignity of the institution and risks damaging public confidence in the justice delivery system. The Bar Association has also stated that constitutional appointments should remain insulated from political controversy and that the judiciary must be allowed to function independently and fearlessly, without any perception of executive pressure. Chugh also referred to a statement made by AAP leader and former Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, in which he spoke of using “Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed, Sach, Jhooth, Ladai, Jhagda” to win elections. He said, “It now appears that Sisodia’s election formula has become the AAP Government’s political modus operandi. First target political opponents, then put pressure on institutions, and when questions are raised, put those very institutions in the dock.”

The BJP leader said the AAP Government must understand that the judiciary cannot function according to the political convenience of any party. He questioned what judicial independence would mean if a Chief Minister and his Cabinet could decide who should head the High Court.