Priyank Kharge attacks judiciary in Karnataka Assembly by accusing it of 'doing job of legislators, executive'

Belagavi: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge launched a scathing attack on the judiciary on Wednesday by accusing it of “doing the job of the legislators and executive.”

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Winter Session of the Legislature in Belagavi, Priyank said: “I am really sorry to say (this) but under the pretext of judicial activism, the judiciary is doing both legislation and executive work.”

He was responding to Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka’s argument that the government hardly wins cases against private companies since these firms pay exorbitant fees and hire top lawyers.

Ashoka said this in response to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao’s argument that private companies had approached the courts in four districts where the IV fluids had been "blacklisted."

“The government and the department have all said that the contractor is at fault. They (contractors) went to the court and got an order. Naturally, our officials will have to implement it," he said.

Reminding Ashoka that he must have received several court orders which are “borderline legislations” when he (Ashoka) was the revenue minister, Priyank said: "As the RDPR minister, I have seen situations where courts have given orders for road-related works. This should also be discussed in the Assembly. This is a very relevant issue, let it be discussed extensively.”

“Courts interfere on these (matters involving life and death) issues. This is our misfortune,” Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani added, to which Ashoka agreed.