Justice is an imaginary concept because those who get it are those who can pay top lawyers while those who cannot, dare not approach a polyvocal Supreme Court. This is why Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s axiom of a cordial relationship between the government and the judiciary is worrying. Perhaps that may explain why the top court initially did not come to the migrants’ rescue in 2020.
From the Archives (December 16, 1970): President’s order on princes illegal
December 16, 2020 00:15 IST
Updated:
December 16, 2020 00:15 IST
Updated:
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A Special Bench of the Supreme Court, by a majority of nine to two, to-day [New Delhi, Dec. 15] held that the order issued by the President on September 6, derecognising the rulers was ultra vires of the Constitution and hence illegal and imperative. Allowing a batch of eight writ petitions filed by some ex-rulers with costs, the three majority judgments declared that “the petitioners will be entitled to all their pre-existing rights and privileges, including the right to privy purse, as if the order had not been made.” The Special Bench delivered five separate judgments three judgments declaring the impugned Presidential order ultra vires, and two dissenting judgments dismissing the writ petitions. The majority judgment was given by Mr. Justice Shah, with whom Mr. Justice Sikri, Mr. Justice Shelat, Mr.