The independence and impartiality of the judiciary hinge on whether it can keep the executive at arm’s length. Though the Constitution says that the State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive, successive Union governments have chosen to disregard this Directive Principle. In February last year, the government, in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, had ruled out a cooling-off period for retired judges before their appointment to tribunals or commissions. This stand was diametrically opposite to the view expressed by senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley in 2012, when the UPA-II was in power. Backed by then party chief Nitin Gadkari, Jaitley had claimed that pre-retirement judgments were influenced by the desire for a post-retirement job. Both had sought a two-year gap between a judge’s retirement and his subsequent appointment by the government.

Since a political party usually has one opinion when it’s in the Opposition and a contrasting one when it’s at the helm, it’s hardly surprising that Justice Ranjan Gogoi has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha, just four months after he retired as the Chief Justice of India (CJI). In fact, there is an air of inevitability about post-retirement sinecures for those holding constitutional positions.

The Congress, which is raising a hue and cry over Justice Gogoi’s nomination, is in no position to take the moral high ground as it had itself sent former CJI Ranganath Misra to the Upper House on the party ticket in 1998. It was the Justice Misra Commission of Inquiry, set up by the Congress government months after the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, that had given the clean chit to the party and dubbed the violence as a ‘spontaneous reaction of the people at large.’ Less than two years after he retired as the CJI, Justice Misra had been appointed the first chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission by the Narasimha Rao-led Congress dispensation. A cooling-off period alone, however, can’t make the judiciary impervious to the executive’s pulls and pressures. It all boils down to following the Constitution — invoked these days at the drop of a hat — in letter and spirit.

THE Chief Justice of India is ranked sixth in the warrant of precedence and he administers the oath of office to the President of India. The recent fall in prestige of a previous occupant of this high office has been singularly steep: from the majestic court room no. 1 to seat no. 104 in the sixth row of the Rajya Sabha, which erupted on Thursday in unprecedented cries of shame. A presidential nominee in the Rajya Sabha, be it Sachin Tendulkar or Raja Ramanna, normally evokes awe, and even admiration. Their entry into Parliament is a moment of celebration. But unfortunately, the oath-taking of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi turned into an occasion for derision, with the Opposition walking out, alleging quid pro quo. The son of a former Congress Chief Minister, Gogoi cannot be a stranger to political barbs and bouquets, but this nomination has only brought disrepute to the judiciary and the legislature.

A judge’s reputation rests forever on his judgments and not in retirement sinecures. The late Arun Jaitley, while speaking in the very same Rajya Sabha as its Leader of Opposition, presciently pointed towards a grave danger: ‘The desire of a post-retirement job influences pre-retirement judgments. It is a threat to the independence of judiciary.’ Jaitley’s old concern, and Gogoi’s new controversy, ought to trigger a movement to institutionalise a permanent bar against post-retirement jobs for judges and those holding constitutional positions to avoid the ugly sight of a former Chief Election Commissioner shouting slogans or a former Comptroller and Auditor General of India rushing into the well of the House.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has put up a spirited defence against allegations by the Congress of the government compromising the judiciary’s integrity by quoting copious examples of Congress’s misdemeanours. But that is no justification because it is a sad fact that the Congress had dragged pliable constitutional functionaries through all possible legal loopholes. Gogoi’s own defence is weaker still. He is blaming the controversy on some ‘lobby’ of lawyers whom he had every opportunity to expose while he presided over the judiciary. This is a new low in our lowly public life.

Abohar, March 22

Despite being a neglected lot, the anganwadi workers were the first one to accept the challenge of bringing about awareness about Covid among women.

Despite non-availability of masks and sanitisers due to lack of state government’s preparedness, the workers were found knocking on the doors in Abohar to educate women about the deadly virus and the precautions they can take to keep the disease at bay. Not only did they provide five vital tips to safeguard themselves from the virus, but also gave a demonstration on they should wash their hands regularly. With the help of banners, which they had prepared, they tried to sensitise people on the enormity of the situation and the steps they should take to minimise its spread.

In Sriganganagar, the role of Accredited Social Health Activists, instituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as part of the National Rural Health Mission, was also adjudged commendable. Equipped with masks and sanitisers, they had so far conducted surveys in about 40,000 houses to prepare a record of people who needed basic medical guidance to protect themselves from the virus. — OC

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

As Covid threat has engulfed the globe, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has directed all Sikh organisations and gurdwara management committees to extend a helping hand in this hour of need, irrespective of any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and race.

Giani Harpreet Singh has called on all gurdwara managements to prepare quarantine wards in the sarais (inns) to meet any emergent situation, arrange langar (food), medical aid and other things as per the situation arising in their respective territories.

Sparing a thought for the Indian students studying abroad who are stuck due to disruption of flights, he emphasised that ‘Guru ghar’ funds could be utilised to accommodate them as per their requirements.

He said for the welfare of all, everyone should observe self-quarantine and follow the advisory issued by the governments and health departments of their respective countries. He cautioned that under the Sikh principles, there could be no space for misconceptions and false notions, as was being circulated on social media.

“Abiding by the Sikh philosophy and keeping faith, every devotee confined in their homes should recite the Gurbani Path and pray for ‘Sarbat da bhalla’ before Akal Purakh. Everyone should refrain from rumours and fallacy. Covid-19 has affected the whole mankind and claimed many lives in various countries”, he said.

Follow govt orders on coronavirus restrictions, says Akal Takht Jathedar

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

With number of coronavirus patients reaching 21 in the state, the state government on Sunday ordered a lockdown till March 31 as an emergency measure to prevent the spread of Covid.

However, the essential services will be exempted from the shutdown which will be effective from Monday at 6 am and will remain in force till 9 pm of March 31, a government statement said.

In an official notification, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh ordered shutdown of all establishments to break the transmission chain of the highly contagious virus.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh warned of tougher restrictions to check the spread of the deadly infection.

On Sunday, Punjab reported seven more Covid cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21, officials said.

The Chief Minister appealed to people to avoid leaving their homes unless there is an acute emergency and asked everyone to follow all health safeguards. “You can play the most vital role in preventing further transmission of the disease by not stepping out,” he appealed to people.

The Chief Secretary said there would be no curfew during the lockdown period, but restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC would remain imposed, preventing gathering of more than 10 persons at any given time.

Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said extra forces would be deployed in all districts for strict implementation of restrictions.

A government official said only essential services such as the police, health, power, emergency transport, and shops selling milk, food items and medicines, will remain open. Besides, eggs, poultry feed, media, e-commerce and essential IT services have been brought under the category of essential items and services.

CM hails corporates

• Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appreciated the decision of Rajinder Gupta, Chairman, Trident Group, to close down his unit and offer full wages, housing and food to his employees during the lockdown
• He appealed to other industrialists in the state to follow Gupta’s example. The Sonalika Tractors management also announced to follow the suit

The restrictions…

• All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops and godowns will remain closed
• Any public gathering of more than 10 persons prohibited
• All inter-state commercial transport closed
• Home quarantine for those who returned from abroad on or after March 9

New Delhi, March 22

The country’s paramilitary forces comprising 10 lakh personnel have ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops for any kind of travel, including leave or routine work, and directed them to ‘’be where they are’’ till April 5 to check Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks, officials said on Sunday.

The forces have also asked all jawans and officers to fill a declaration form to state that none of their family members have travelled to any foreign destination in the recent past and in case someone has, they need to be tested or put into isolation on a case-to-case basis.

Officials said the direction has been issued by the headquarters of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, Sashastra Seema Bal and National Security Guard to ensure prevention of a mass outbreak of the pandemic in these forces that are the “backbone” of country’s internal security. — PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

Delhi today joined the list of cities across the country to announce lockdown to check the rapid spread of Covid-19 as it prohibited inter-state travel from neighbouring districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with which it shares the border.

Drawing a lesson from the manner in which countries such as Italy, Iran and China, where it spread swiftly, or nations where early lockdown resulted in preventing the spread, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced lockdown from 6 am on Monday till March 31.

Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at a press conference this evening, the Chief Minister said if the city government did not take tough steps and if the numbers of affected leapt to thousands, the health infrastructure would not be able to deal with it.

The government ordered closure of public transport, including taxis, private buses, auto-rickshaws, while allowing plying of Delhi Transport Corporation buses at 25 per cent strength to cater to the requirement of those on exemption list.

Besides closure of all religious places, the government ordered shutting of private institution or enterprise, while directing payment of salary/wages for the period to employees, permanent or contractual.

Those exempt include police, fire, law and order agencies, hospitals, medical services, magisterial services, stores selling food, milk, groceries, vegetables, service providers such as electricity, water, sanitation, telecom, posts, media, home delivery services by e-commerce platforms, etc.

Restaurants will be allowed to cater to takeaway or delivery services, while construction activity will be banned during the period. The order prohibiting assembly of five or more persons will remain in force.

As for reports of black market/hoarding of masks and sanitisers, the CM said while those indulging in such activities were not only doing an illegal act but also working against humanity in this hour of grave crisis.

The city government, he said, had so far conducted 327 raids and taken action against 437 individuals.