The court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision, stating that the credibility of the Indian judiciary cannot be undermined by individual statements.
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea by the Bombay Lawyers’ Association that sought action against Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju for their comments on the working of the Collegium and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Basic Structure Doctrine.
According to the reports by Indian Express, the PIL, which was dismissed by the Bombay High Court in February 2021, had sought directions to restrain Dhankhar and Rijiju from discharging their duties as Vice President and Union Minister, respectively, pending final hearing and disposal of the plea.
The bench of Justices S K Kaul and Ahsanuddin Amanulla upheld the High Court’s view, stating that “the credibility of Supreme Court of India is sky high and it cannot be eroded or impinged by the statements of individuals”. The bench added that if any authority has made an inappropriate statement, the Supreme Court is broad enough to deal with the same.
The bench further observed that the PIL can only be used for redressal of a genuine public wrong or public injury and not for publicity-oriented purposes.
The PIL had alleged that Dhankhar and Rijiju had made derogatory, insulting and objectionable utterances showing their lack of faith in the Constitution of India and the judiciary established by law.