Respect for judiciary paramount: Government sources amid row

High-ranking government officials have reiterated their dedication to maintaining the judiciary’s function within the democratic structure, highlighting the necessity of collaboration among essential institutions for the country’s advancement.

“Respect for the judiciary is paramount,” government sources said, underlining the significance of maintaining the integrity of the judicial system. Officials also highlighted the collaborative efforts of various democratic institutions, saying, “All pillars of democracy are working in tandem for Viksit Bharat.”

Speaking about petitions against the Waqf Act, the officials emphasised the accessibility of legal recourse, saying, “Everyone has the right to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court.”

Further sources described the relationship between the judiciary and legislature as inseparable. “Judiciary and legislature are two sides of the same coin,” they said, indicating a need for balance and mutual understanding in upholding the Constitution.

These remarks emerged amidst the conflict between the judiciary and the executive in the nation. Lately, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made another forceful critique of the Supreme Court regarding a directive imposing a deadline for the President to make decisions on bills.

Earlier today, the Vice President reinforced criticism of judicial ‘overreach’ and emphasized that the “Parliament holds supreme authority.”

“There is no visualisation in the Constitution of any authority above Parliament. Parliament is supreme and that being the situation, let me tell you, it is as supreme as every individual in the country,” he said amid the ongoing debate over judiciary versus executive.

His remarks came after a hearing in the Supreme Court over the recently-enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The court, during the hearing, raised questions over some of the Act’s provisions, including the ‘Waqf by user’ provision

However, the BJP distanced itself from Dubey’s remarks. Calling his comments “personal statements”, BJP national president JP Nadda clarified that the party does not endorse or support these views.

“Bharatiya Janata Party has always respected the judiciary and gladly accepted its orders and suggestions because, as a party, we believe that all the courts of the country, including the Supreme Court, are an integral part of our democracy and are the strong pillar of the protection of the Constitution,” Nadda said in a post on X.