VP Dhankhar's Fresh Strike At Top Court

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has again questioned the remit of the Supreme Court within the framework of the government as laid out in the Constitution, declaring the "Parliament (i.e., the Legislative) is supreme" and that "elected representatives (i.e., the Members of Parliament) are the 'ultimate masters' of what the Constitution will be... there cannot be any authority above them".

Dhankhar, at a Delhi University event Tuesday morning, also hit back at criticism of earlier attacks, declaring "every word spoken by a constitutional functionary is guided by supreme national interest".

Today's comments by Dhankhar, also the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Parliament's Upper House, follow the row he triggered by referring to Article 142 of the Constitution, which gives the Supreme Court special powers to pass orders that are enforceable across the country and are "necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it". Dhankhar had complained Article 142 "has become a nuclear missile against democratic forces, available to the judiciary 24x7".

“Institution Under Attack Every Day”

Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant has played down strong criticism- by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey- of the role and remit of India's top judicial forum. "We are not worried... the institution comes under attack every day," the senior judge said. Justice Surya Kant's soft dismissal of the barbs - which began after the Supreme Court's landmark verdict about a deadline for the President and Governors to clear bills - came as he heard a contempt of court case from Karnataka.

Respect For Judiciary Is Paramount

Meanwhile, a top government source said that respect for the judiciary is paramount and all pillars of democracy are working in tandem for a Viksit Bharat. This statement appears to be a balancing act after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and a section of BJP leaders targeted the Supreme Court and top judges took note.