'Facing Allegations Of Encroachment...': SC On Plea Seeking President's Rule In Bengal

The Supreme Court confronted allegations of judicial overreach by BJP leaders regarding rulings on presidential timelines and the Waqf Act.

The Supreme Court responded to allegations of judicial overreach by BJP leaders while hearing a petition seeking President's rule in West Bengal.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday reacted to the allegations of judicial overreached levelled by a section of leaders from Bharatiya Janata Party while hearing a petition seeking President's rule in violence-hit West Bengal. 

Two important rulings by the apex court -- setting a timeline for the President to take decisions on bills sent by governors and staying certain provisions of the amended Waqf Act -- have drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders. 

A two-judge bench including Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih on Monday was hearing a petition seeking the invocation of Article 355 in West Bengal, citing violence in Murshidabad district during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act.

Facing Allegations Of Encroachment 

While hearing the plea seeking President's rule in Bengal and deployment of paramilitary forces, Justice Gavai said, "You want us to issue a writ of mandamus to the President to impose this? As it is, we are facing allegations of encroaching into the executive (domain)," reported LiveLaw. 

The comments apparently referred to the two rulings which have been met with criticism. Last week, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar sharply criticised the Court's directive to the President.

BJP Distances From Statements 

On Saturday, the saffron party disassociated itself with the criticism of the Supreme Court by its MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma as party president JP Nadda rejected the comments as their personal views. 

"The BJP has nothing to do with the comments of MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the chief justice. This is their personal comments but the BJP neither agrees with them nor does it ever support such remarks. The BJP absolutely rejects them," Nadda said in a post on X.

He further said that he has directed both the leaders and other members of the party to not make such comments. 

The BJP president maintained that the party always respected the judiciary and accepted its suggestions and orders gladly because it believes as a party that all the courts, including the apex court, are an inseparable part of our democracy.

"They are a strong pillar of the protection of the Constitution," he said.