Parliament, executive should not interfere in judiciary: CJI

Parliament had yesterday scrapped the collegium system for appointment of judges in higher courts

A day after Parliament approved scrapping of the collegium system for appointment of judges in higher courts, the Chief Justice of India R M Lodha today said Parliament and executive should not interfere in the domain of judiciary.

"I am sure that people in judiciary, people in executive and people in Parliament are mature enough to have mutual respect for each other and ensure that each of them is permitted to work in their sphere unhindered by any extraneous influence," Justice Lodha said after unfurling tricolour in the Supreme Court premises.

He said our Constitution makers made it sure that all organs of the state operate in their respective field without encroaching upon the other's domain.

Notwithstanding reservations of judiciary, Parliament had yesterday cleared two bills providing for a new mechanism for appointment of judges to higher judiciary by scrapping the over two-decade old collegium system that had come under attack from political parties and others.

Apparently responding to criticism over inordinate delay in the justice delivery system, Justice Lodha noted that while judiciary is responsible for appointing less then 1,000 judges (of SC and HCs), the state governments appoint 19,000 judges in lower courts.