"Institution Under Attack Every Day": Supreme Court On Judiciary Row

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 the 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 state Governors to clear bills - came as he heard a contempt of court case involving a newspaper report from Karnataka.

The lawyer arguing the case pointed to public criticism of the judiciary and urged the Supreme Court to take notice of the contempt charge or risk erosion of the public's trust.

In reply, Justice Surya Kant indicated he was "not worried about the institution..."

The comments by Justice Surya Kant, the second in line to become Chief Justice of India, come as the Supreme Court finds itself the subject of fierce attacks from Vice President Dhankhar.

Hours before Justice Surya Kant's remarks in court, Mr Dhankhar, a lawyer by trade, had once again targeted the Supreme Court, declaring elected representatives (i.e., Members of Parliament) the "ultimate masters of what the Constitution will be..."

"In one case, the Supreme Court says the Preamble is not part of the Constitution... in another it says it is... but let there be no doubt about the Constitution. Elected representatives will be ultimate masters of what the Constitution will be. There cannot be any authority above them..." the Veep, who is also Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, said at a Delhi event.

Last week Mr Dhankhar fired an all-out attack on the Supreme Court, taking aim over Article 142 of the Constitution, which gives the Supreme Court special powers to pass orders enforceable across India "for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it".

Days after the Supreme Court' set deadlines for the President and Governors, Mr Dhankhar complained Article 142 "has become a nuclear missile against democratic forces..."

The comments followed similar remarks by BJP MPs, including Nishikant Dubey, who said the Supreme Court is "taking the country towards anarchy" and that Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna is responsible for the "wars taking place in the country".

The Supreme Court will next week hear a plea against these remarks.

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