Tolerance need of the hour, reminds Pranab

TNS & Agencies

New Delhi, October 31

President Pranab Mukherjee has yet again underscored the need for preserving the pluralistic character of the country, saying India has prospered due to its power to assimilate and tolerate. He also stressed that the appointment process for judiciary must conform to the highest standards of probity.

“Our country has thrived due to its power of tolerance. Our pluralistic character has stood the test of time,” said Mukherjee, speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Delhi HC here today. “India has 1.3 billion people belonging to three ethnic groups (Caucasian, Dravidian and Mongoloid) speaking 122 languages and 1,600 dialects, and professing seven faiths,” he said.

Referring to the ancient civilisations having accommodated diversities, he said: “Multiplicity is our collective strength which must be preserved at all costs. It finds reflection in various provisions of our Constitution.”

The theme of the HC’s celebrations, “Justice for all”, implies empowerment of the weak and equal treatment of law irrespective of one’s individual identity”, he said.

This is the third time in the past few weeks that the President has spoken against growing intolerance. In the wake of the Dadri lynching and subsequent incidents, the President, at a function in West Bengal on October 19, had wondered if tolerance and acceptance of dissent were on the wane in the country. 

 He again appealed to people to practise tolerance and accept differences while respecting dissent. 

On judicial appointments, the President said irrespective of the system followed, the process must be on a well-established and transparent principle to select the best and “no one can meddle in the process”.

“Vacancies in judicial positions must be filled on a priority basis. Having said that, expeditious selection must be no ground for sacrifice on quality. The appointment process must conform to the highest standards of probity. Whichever system of appointment we follow, it must operate on well-established and transparent principles to select the best. No one can meddle in the process,” said Mukherjee.

The remarks come in the wake of the recent decision of the Supreme Court quashing the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act that triggered a fresh round of debate over the appointments process. 

“An autonomous judiciary is a vital feature of democracy. Yet being an important pillar of democracy, it must reinvent itself through introspection and self-correction, as and when necessary,” the President told the gathering that included Chief Justice of India HL Dattu, Delhi High Court Chief Justice G Rohini, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and legal luminaries from the Bar and Bench. 

Stressing swift delivery of justice, he said this was the third trinity of an effective judicial system along with accessibility and affordability. 

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Haryana CM Khattar targets Nehru

Vallabhbhai Patel took the responsibility of merging 565 princely states with India. He proved his mettle and the princely states agreed for a merger… On the other hand, only one state (J&K) was the responsibility of Jawaharlal Nehru and because of Article 370, we still can’t call it an integral part of the country. The state’s special status is an obstacle in the country’s unity - Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister