New Delhi:
Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, refering to the legal challenge to the amended Waqf law, told NDTV today that he is “confident” that the Supreme Court would not “venture into legislative matter”. He also said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s declaration that the amended law will not be implemented in the state, raises questions on whether she has any moral authority or the Constitutional right to occupy that position.
The minister’s comment comes amid an escalating row over the law, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court by multiple individuals and organisations, and the staunch declaration of Ms Banerjee in Bengal. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on Wednesday.
“I am confident that the Supreme Court will not venture into a legislative matter,” the minister told NDTV. “We have to respect each other. If tomorrow the government interferes into judiciary, it won’t be nice. The separation of powers is well defined,” he said.
“I have not seen any other bill being scrutinised so much… one crore representation, maximum sittings of the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) and a record in Rajya Sabha while debating the bill,” he added.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had made it clear that it would not trespass into the domain of the legislature. But as the final arbiter on issues involving constitution, it has agreed to hear out the petitioners, who insist that the amended law tramples on several fundamental rights including the right to equality and the right to pursue religious practices.