V P Singh for Parliament-Judiciary 'dialogue'

In the midst of a raging debate on 'judicial activism,' former prime minister V P Singh has called for a 'dialogue' between Parliament and the Judiciary, asserting that the two highest institutions 'should not come under any hue-and-cry.'

"No hue-and-cry should be made about it (issue of judicial activism) because Supreme Court is a respected institution, as is Parliament," Singh told PTI in New Delhi on Saturday.

"I think instead of hue-and-cry, there should be a dialogue between judiciary and Parliament," Singh said, adding, "It is not good that the highest institutions come under any hue-and-cry, be it judiciary or Parliament."

The Jan Morcha leader lauded the judiciary for some of its decisions, including the one on the declaration of assets by the candidates before elections and on introduction CNG buses.

"I would not say everything has been bad. They (courts) have taken some very good decisions. But sometimes they take up the things which the government budget can or cannot bear. That is the area of the executive. It is a question of giving more thought to," he said.

While Singh said that courts should intervene where they felt it was needed, he sounded a critical note on the Supreme Court judgement on demolitions of illegal structures in the capital.

"They (Court) set up a committee on demolition. That is totally an executive job. The lady judge is doing an executive job. This is rather too much," he added.

A Supreme Court bench had on Friday said that it would consider the question of laying down the guidelines for entertaining Public Interest Litigations after a two-judge bench had earlier made observations on judicial over-reach.