Governance must be left to those who are elected to govern: RS Prasad

Judiciary can set aside any law which is unconstitutional but governance must be left to those who are elected to govern, said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday.

Prasad made these comments while addressing a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) where the commission chairman and former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu was also present.

The Law Minister said, "Judiciary can set aside any law which is found to be unconstitutional. It must set aside any order which is found to be arbitrary. But we need to recognise that governance must be left to those who are elected to govern by the people of India."

Speaking at the event, Prasad said, "I am saying this because I am seeing great propensity of certain courts to take over the governance that is their right. But there is a need to reflect upon this trend. They must hold accountability to their power. Governance is to be given to those elected to govern."

Hailing the Indian judiciary, the Union Minister said that it has strengthened the foundation of democratic polity by stressing upon the rights.

Pointing out that the Indian Constitution defines the power separation of the bodies very well; Prasad said that judiciary can set aside any errant politician who is abusing his authority.

He further said that governance and accountability go hand in hand and bodies like NHRC provide platforms to bring in accountability.