…But people keep speculating, what did the legal experts say on PM Modi’s visit to CJI’s house?

New Delhi: While political rhetoric is going on over PM Narendra Modi’s participation in the Ganpati Puja ceremony at Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s house, legal experts also seem divided. Some legal experts say that there is nothing wrong in this and the Constitution gives the right to religious freedom, while some also say that this sends a wrong message.

‘There is nothing political or case-related there…’

Bar Council of India chairman and BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra said that the Constitution gives the right to religious freedom and everyone is free to follow their religion. If the PM goes to the Chief Justice’s residence to participate in the puja ritual, then there is nothing wrong in it. The private event is in front of the public and everything is transparent. If the matter of attending the private event had not come to light, people would have still talked. Everything is out in the open that there was no political or case-related talk there. It was a completely private event and the PM participated in the puja program. The then Chief Justice attended the Iftar party of the then PM Manmohan Singh. Senior advocate ML Lahoti, who has been practicing in the Supreme Court for the last 50 years, said that he/she is of the opinion that there is nothing wrong in the meeting of the head of the judiciary with the executive head of the country. Rather, he/she believes that this is good and such meetings should take place.

What does Kapil Sibal have to say?

On the other hand, Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal said that he/she was surprised to see the picture of the meeting between PM and CJI on the occasion of Ganesh Puja. It is a matter of principle that top public functionaries should not be public in such functions. PM should not have participated in a private event like this. This is not a personal matter. This sends the wrong message. Religious belief is a private matter. In the case of people who are in top positions, it should not be publicly displayed. There is no reason behind such meetings but people keep speculating and this is not a good message. On the other hand, senior advocate Dushyant Dave said that in 1997, there was a full court in which it was said that the judge should stay away from functions in his/her personal life. Judges stay away from functions. There is a division of power under the Constitution, it cannot be diluted. Even if there was a private event, it should not have been videographed or photographed. The wrong message goes to the public.