New Delhi: Union law minister Kiren Rijiju stated that judges are still subject to public scrutiny despite not having to participate in elections, reported news agency ANI. "People are watching you... the judgments you give, how you work... In this age of social media, you can't hide anything," he said.
"Democracy will not succeed if we weaken the independence of the judiciary or reduce its authority, respect and dignity," the minister said.
"There have been many changes since 1947, so it would be wrong to think that the existing system will carry on and it would never be questioned. It is the changing situation which dictates the need and this is why the Constitution had to be amended more than a hundred times," he added.
On Sunday, Rijiju sought to support the views of a retired high court judge who claimed that the Supreme Court "hijacked" the Constitution by deciding to appoint judges itself, as the tussle between the government and the judiciary over the Collegium system appeared to become more heated.
The video of an interview with Justice R S Sodhi (retd), a former Delhi Court judge, was shared by Rijiju, who claimed that it was the "voice of a judge" and that the majority of people shared "sane views."
According to Justice Sodhi, Parliament has the authority to make laws, and the Supreme Court does not have the authority to make laws.
"... Whether you can amend the Constitution? Only Parliament will amend the Constitution. But here I feel the Supreme Court for the first time 'hijacked' the Constitution. After 'hijacking' they (SC) said that we will appoint (judges) ourselves and the government will have no role in it," Justice Sodhi said in Hindi.
The law minister tweeted that "actually majority of the people have similar sane views. It's only those people who disregard the provisions of the Constitution and mandate of the people think that they are above the Constitution of India."
"Real beauty of Indian Democracy is its success. People rule themselves through their representatives. Elected representatives represent the interests of the People & make laws. Our Judiciary is independent and our Constitution is Supreme," the minister tweeted.
The government has been arguing that the legislature is superior because it represents the people's will and has been seeking a larger role in the selection of judges.