Prime Ministers of India in successive governments would either invite people or respond to their invitation by attending functions, and it would be a common practice irrespective of a political party or a group of them in power.
A recent controversy over Prime Narendra Modi attending Ganpati Puja celebrations at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud a few days ago, hence, projects no sense.
Many Congress Prime Ministers including, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, invited people or visited them and mixed up with judges and other high officials of the independent institutions or agencies on various occasions.
Therefore, the hue and cry over Modi attending a prayer function at the official residence of the CJI has no meaning whatsoever.
Common people understand that it was just a politically motivated campaign to malign the image of the sitting prime minister.
Meanwhile, BJP hit back at the opposition, saying Modi’s visit to CJI’s residence was restricted to Ganpati Puja celebrations, and it was a “part of our culture”.
They said no one should raise any question over such issues as they have the right, like any other citizen, to enjoy the freedom of conscience and religion privately.
In India, the CJI and the judges of the Supreme Court at the time of appointment, take an oath of office to the effect that they will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, and that they will duly and faithfully, perform their duties without fear or favor, affection or ill-will, and that they will uphold the Constitution and the law.
Many opposition leaders, following the Prime Minister tweeting a picture of him at the Ganesh puja with Chandrachud and his spouse, raised questions asking if the CJI has been true to his oath of office.
The controversy started after Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said a “custodian of the Constitution” meeting politicians could raise doubts in the minds of people.
“PM went to CJI’s house, and they together performed ‘aarti’… if a custodian of the Constitution meets politicians, it can create doubt in the minds of people,” Raut was quoted as saying in the media reports.
He also listed recent cases where the Supreme Court did not give favorable rulings for the Opposition.
Similarly, a senior advocate Indira Jaising also questioned the meeting between the Prime Minister and the CJI.
“The Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the executive and judiciary,” she said, asking the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to take note of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reminded the Congress party of the time when in 2009, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited then CJI, KG Balakrishnan, to attend an Iftaar party.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla shared pictures of Singh in a candid laugh with Balakrishnan, on X post and wrote, “Judiciary is safe”.
