Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday fired a shot across the bow of the judiciary, warning that the power of judicial review should be used to enforce accountability and not to erode the legitimate roles of other branches of the government.
This, he said, was “necessary to preserve the integrity and sanctity of the constitutional scheme premised on the diffusion of sovereign power”.
Dr Singh’s remarks are significant given recent interventions by the Supreme Court, particularly the 2G spectrum scam, in former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Desh-mukh’s case and with regard to bringing back black money in Swiss banks.
“We find that in interpreting laws, our judges have also widened their scope and reach as lawgivers,” he pointedly added.
Dr Singh said developing countries needed legal systems which could equitably distribute gains from rapid economic development.