The Supreme Court slammed the government of India on Wednesday after the latter had asked the apex court to ‘restrain’ from making unfavourable remarks against governance while dealing with pleas.
The SC said it was at least “solving problems” and was in no way “criticising the government”.
Appearing for the government, Attorney General KK Venugopal told a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur that the court was passing orders in individual pleas without realising the financial impact. He placed references to newspaper headlines.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court of India asks media not to publish pictures of victims of sexual abuse ‘in any form’
Venugopal said that while the cancellation of the 2G licenses by the court virtually wiped out huge foreign investments, another order for removal of liquor vends on highways caused a financial loss and people lost their livelihood.
“There is a question of budgetary allocations…Government’s 80-90 welfare programs are going on simultaneously…Court dealing with one issue and passes order but from where the funds would come,” Mr Venugopal pleaded.
“Judges may not know all aspects of every problem when they choose to make adverse comments against the government,” he added.
ALSO READ: There cannot be a ‘blanket ban’ on protests at Jantar Mantar: Supreme Court
In response, Justice Lokur said it was because of the court’s order that the government has collected over Rs. 1,50,000 crore as environment funds for illegal mining. The court ordered for information on why the money hadn’t been spent.
The bench also comprising Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta stated, “Let us make it clear that we have not and we are not criticising the government for everything. We are also citizens of this country. Do not give the impression that we are criticising the government and preventing it from working. We are only enforcing rights of people. We cannot wish away Article 21.”
Many developments have happened only because of the orders of the court, the bench said, adding, “You should only ask your officers to follow the laws made by parliament.”
The bench of Justice Lokur has uptil now, heard pleas relating to pollution, environment, garbage, overcrowding of prisons, conditions of women and children there, shelter homes for children, rehabilitation of widows, illegal mining and other matters, and passing orders.
