2009 11 11 Student Election Case

8/10/2019 2009 11 11 Student Election Case

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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTIONCIVIL APPEAL NO. 887 OF 2009

University of Kerala ..Appellant

versus

Council, Principals', Colleges,Kerala & Others ..Respondents

WITH

S.L.P.(C) NOS.24296-24299 OF 2004S.L.P.(C) NO.14356 OF 2005

WRIT PETITION(C) NO.429 OF 2009

O R D E R

Heard learned counsel for the parties as also thelearned Solicitor General of India, Mr. Gopal Subramaniam,

who has appeared as amicus curiae.

This Appeal has been filed against the impugned

judgment of the Kerala High Court dated 24 th June, 2004 in

Writ Petition No. 30845 of 2003.

The Writ Petition was filed by the Council of

Principals of Colleges in Kerala, which is an association of

Principals of various private aided colleges in the State of


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Kerala. The main challenge in the writ petition before the

High Court was that the various universities in the State of

Kerala had issued directions by way of letters/circulars to

conduct election to the colleges' unions. The challenge in

the writ petition was to those letters/circulars.

The Kerala High Court, by the impugned order, has

allowed the writ petition and quashed those

letters/circulars directing following the presidential

system of election in the students' union election and left

it free to the colleges to follow the system of their

choice. The directions in the concluding part of the

impugned judgment is as follows:

In such circumstances the direction givenin the letters to conduct election followingthe presidential system of election cannot

be sustained and the affiliated colleges arefree to follow a system which is better forthe administration and discipline in thecolleges. The writ petitions are allowedaccordingly. The direction to conductelection following the presidential systemof election will stand set aside.

The High Court held that the impugned

circulars/letters had no statutory basis, and hence were

invalid.


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Against the aforesaid judgment, the University of

Kerala has filed this appeal by grant of special leave.

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It appears that when this matter came up before this

Court, the Court was concerned about the manner in which

students' union activities were carried on, including the

manner of election to the students' union, throughout the

country. The Court was concerned about the

politicization/criminalization in such activities. Hence,

this Court by order dated 12 th December, 2005 directed

appointment of a Committee and accordingly a Committee was

constituted by the Ministry of Human Resources and

Development, Union of India. The members of the Committee

were:

1. Mr. J.M.Lyngdoh, Retd. Chief ElectionCommissioner(Chairman).2.Dr. Zoya Hassan3.Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta4. Dr.Daya Nand Dongaonkar (Secretary General of the

Association of Indian Universities).

Apart from the aforesaid members in the Committee,

two other members were to be nominated by the Ministry of

Human Resources and Development.


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Consequent to the directions of this Court, the

Committee headed by Mr. J.M.Lyngdoh, former Chief Election

Commissioner, went into detail into all aspects of the

matter and after having very wide consultations, including

consultations with teachers, students' unions etc.

submitted its Report dated 23 rd May, 2006 to this Court.

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This Court by a detailed order dated 22 nd September,

2006 directed implementation of the Report of the Committee

as an interim measure. By the said order, this Court

directed that the recommendations of the Committee shall be

followed in all colleges/universities elections

hereinafter, until further orders.

I am not going into the details about various

recommendations made by the Committee and we have no doubt

that many of them are wholesome. Mr. Lyngdoh is a man of

very high integrity and the whole nation is proud of him.

I have no manner of doubt that the Committee headed by him

considered the entire matter, referred to it, in great

detail. However, I have grave reservations about the

manner of implementation of the recommendations of the

Committee by passing the order dated 22.9.2006.

The question of great constitutional importance


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which has arisen is whether after getting the

recommendations of some expert body by a court order, the

Court itself can implement the said recommendations by

passing a judicial order or whether the Court can only send

it to the Legislature or its delegate to consider making a

law for implementation of these recommendations.

The aforesaid question, therefore, raises a great

constitutional question about judicial legislation, whether

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it is permissible at all under our Constitution, and even

if it is, what is the extent of judicial legislation?

In my opinion, the interim order of this Court dated

22 nd September, 2006, prima facie, amounts to judicial

legislation and the question before us is whether this is

legally permissible. I am prima facie of the opinion that

it is not. As held by this Court in Divisional Manager,

Aravali Golf Club & Another vs. Chander Hass & Another

(2008) 1 SCC 683 (vide para 26):

.... If there is a law, judges can certainlyenforce it, but judges cannot create a law

and seek to enforce it. There is broad separation of powers under the

Constitution, and hence one organ of the State should not

encroach into the domain of another organ. The judiciary

should not therefore seek to perform legislative or


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executive functions vide Common Cause vs. Union of India

(2008) 5 SCC 511.

In Ram Jawaya Kapur vs. State of Punjab AIR 1955 SC

549 (vide paragraph 12), a Constitution Bench of this Court

observed:

12. ...The Indian Constitution has notindeed recognized the doctrine of separationof powers in its absolute rigidity but thefunctions of the different parts or branchesof the Government have been sufficientlydifferentiated and consequently it can very

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well be said that our Constitution does notcontemplate assumption, by one organ or partof the State, of functions that essentially

belong to another.

(emphasis supplied)

Similarly, in Asif Hameed vs. State of Jammu and

Kashmir, AIR 1989 SC 1899, a three Judge bench of this

Court observed:

17. Before adverting to the controversydirectly involved in these appeals we mayhave a fresh look at the inter se

functioning of the three organs of democracyunder our Constitution. Although thedoctrine of separation of powers has not

been recognized under the Constitution inits absolute rigidity but the constitution

makers have meticulously defined thefunctions of various organs of the State.Legislature, executive and judiciary have to


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function within their own spheres demarcatedunder the Constitution. No organ can usurpthe functions assigned to another. TheConstitution trusts to the judgment of theseorgans to function and exercise theirdiscretion by strictly following the

procedure prescribed therein. Thefunctioning of democracy depends upon thestrength and independence of each of itsorgans. Legislature and executive, the twofacets of people's will, they have all the

powers including that of finance. Judiciaryhas no power over sword or the pursenonetheless it has power to ensure that theaforesaid two main organs of State functionwithin the constitutional limits. It is thesentinel of democracy. Judicial review is a

powerful weapon to restrain unconstitutionalexercise of power by the legislature andexecutive. The expanding horizon of judicialreview has taken in its fold the concept of

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social and economic justice. While exerciseof powers by the legislature and executiveis subject to judicial restraint, the only

check on our own exercise of power is theself imposed discipline of judicialrestraint.

Frankfurter, J. of the U.S. Supreme Courtdissenting in the controversial expatriationcase of Trop v. Dulles (1958) 356 US 86observed as under :

....All power is, in Madison's phrase, of an encroaching nature.

Judicial powers is not immune against thishuman weakness. It also must be on guardagainst encroaching beyond its proper

bounds, and not the less so since the onlyrestraint upon it is self restraint.....

In my respectful opinion, once the Committee's


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Report was received by the Court, the Court should have

thereafter, instead of passing a judicial order directing

implementation of the recommendations, sent it to the

appropriate Legislature or its delegate (which in this case

is the University which can make delegated legislation in

the form of Statutes or Ordinances). It is for the

Legislature or the concerned authorities to make a law

accepting the Report in toto or accepting it in part, or

not accepting it at all but it is not for the Court to pass

judicial orders for implementations of the recommendations

by the Committee, because that would really amount to

legislation by the judiciary.

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Learned Solicitor General submitted that when there

is a pressing social need the Court can validly pass an

order such as the one passed by this Court on 22.9.2006 in

the public interest. I am afraid I have some reservations

about this proposition, and that for two reasons. Firstly,

there are hundreds of pressing social needs e.g. the need

to control price rise, abolish unemployment and poverty

etc. Should the Courts start dealing with all these social

problems? Secondly, once the Court starts doing

legislation, as the order dated 22.9.2006 has really done,


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where does this end, and is this not encroaching into the

domain of the legislature or executive? In Divisional

Manager, Aravali Golf Club (supra), we have pointed at the

grave dangers for the judiciary in this.

It has been repeatedly held by this Court that this

Court cannot direct legislation vide Union of India vs.

Prakash P. Hinduja (2003) 6 SCC 195:AIR 2003 SC 2612 and it

cannot legislate vide Sanjay Kumar vs. State of U.P. 2004

All LJ 239, Verareddy Kumaraswamy Reddy vs. State of A.P.

(2006) 2 SCC 670:JT(2006) 2 SC 361, Suresh Seth vs. Commr.

Indore Municipal Corporation (2005) 13 SCC 287:AIR 2006 SC

767 and Union of India vs. Deoki Nandan Aggarwal 1992

Supp(1) SCC 323:AIR 1992 SC 96.

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The Court should not encroach into the sphere of the

other organs of the State vide N.K. Prasada vs. Govt. of

India (2004)6 SCC 299 : JT 2004 Supp (1) SC 326.

Thus in Supreme Court Employees' Welfare Assn. vs.

Union India (1989) 4 SCC 187:AIR 1990 SC 334, this Court

observed:

"There can be no doubt that an authorityexercising legislative function cannot bedirected to do a particular act. Similarlythe President of India cannot be directed by


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the court to grant approval to the proposals made by the Registrar General of the Supreme

Court, presumably on the direction of theChief Justice of India".

In Union of India vs. Assn. for Democratic Reforms

(2002) 5 SCC 294 : AIR 2002 SC 2112, this Court observed:

"19. At the outset, we would say that it isnot possible for this Court to give anydirections for amending the Act or thestatutory rules. It is for Parliament toamend the Act and the Rules. It is alsoestablished law that no direction can begiven, which would be contrary to the Actand the Rules."

Learned Solicitor General submitted that there are a

large number of decisions where such orders have been

passed by this Court, and there are a large number of

pending cases where the issues mentioned above will arise,

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and hence the matter should be referred to a Constitution

Bench to be constituted by Hon'ble the Chief Justice of

India. He invited our attention to Article 145(3) of the

Constitution which states that a bench of at least 5 Judges

should decide a case involving a substantial question of

law as to the interpretation of the Constitution.

We agree with this submission. The points mentioned


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above certainly raise grave questions of Constitutional

importance e.g. about (1) the separation of powers of the

different organs of the State under our Constitution, (2)

the validity of judicial legislation and, if it is at all

permissible, its limits, (3) the validity and limits of

judicial activism and the need for judicial restraint, etc.

It is true that this Court has often being doing

legislation in various decisions but the question remains

whether this was constitutionally valid. For example, in

Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan (1997) 6 SCC 241 which was a

case relating to sexual harassment of women in work places,

a three Judge Bench of this Court has issued various

directives and as stated therein these will be treated as

law under Article 141 of the Constitution until Parliament

makes a law on the subject. While we fully agree that

working women should be protected against sexual

harassment, the constitutional question remains whether

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such directives by this Court are constitutionally valid?

In substance the Court has said in Vishaka's case (supra)

that it will become an interim Parliament and legislate on

the subject until Parliament makes a law on the subject.

Is this constitutionally valid? Can the Court convert


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itself into an interim Parliament and make law until

Parliament makes a law on the subject? I have grave doubts

about this, and hence this point also needs to be decided

by a Constitution Bench.

It is not necessary to refer to the other decisions

of this Court where it has assumed legislative or executive

powers, but the time has come when a thorough

reconsideration by an authoritative Constitution Bench is

required about the constitutional correctness of these

decisions.

Hence, I refer the following questions of law,

preferably to be decided by an authoritative Constitution

Bench of this Court, to be nominated by Hon'ble the Chief

Justice of India:

1. Whether the Court by an interim orderdated 22.09.2006 can validly directimplementation of the Lyngdoh Committee'sReport;

2. Whether the order dated 22 ndSeptember, 2006 really amounts to judiciallegislation;

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3. Whether under our Constitution thejudiciary can legislate, and if so, what isthe permissible limits of judiciallegislation. Will judicial legislation notviolate the principle of separation of


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powers broadly envisaged by ourConstitution;

4. Whether the judiciary can legislatewhen in its opinion there is a pressingsocial problem of public interest or it canonly make a recommendation to thelegislature or concerned authority in thisconnection; and

5. Whether Article 19 (1)(c) and otherfundamental rights are being violated whenrestrictions are being placed by theimplementation of the Lyngdoh Committeereport without authority of law.

6. What is the scope of Articles 141 and142 of the Constitution? Do they permit thejudiciary to legislate and/or performfunctions of the executive wing of theState.

In our opinion, these are questions of great

constitutional importance and hence, in our respectful

opinion they require careful consideration by a

Constitution Bench of this Court. The matters we are

referring to a larger Bench are occurring in a large number

of cases all over the country and indeed all over the

world. Hence, the issues we have raised have to be decided

after careful consideration preferably by a Constitution

Bench and after hearing learned counsel for the parties,

and also taking the help of some senior counsel as amicus

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curiae.


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Let the papers of this case be placed before Hon'ble

the Chief Justice of India for constituting preferably a

Constitution Bench at an early date for deciding the

questions stated by us above.

...........................J.[MARKANDEY KATJU]

NEW DELHI; NOVEMBER 11, 2009.


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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIACIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.887 OF 2009

University of Kera a !!!A""e ant#s$

Vs!

Co%n&i ' Prin&i"a s(' Co e)es'Kera a an* Ot+ers !!!Res"on*ent#s$

With

S.L.P.(C) No. 24296-24299 o 2004S.L.P. (C) No. !4"#6 o 200#

W$it P%titio& (C) No. 429 o 2009

O R ' E R

AN L*+ ,.

,! I a)ree -it+ .y earne* Hon(/ e 0rot+er Kat1%'

J!' t+at t+e 2%estions for.% ate* /y His Lor*s+i"

s+o% * /e referre* to a Constit%tion 0en&+ for an

a%t+oritative "rono%n&e.ent!

3! Sin&e t+ose 2%estions &on&ern t+e very &ore of

15


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o%r Constit%tiona 1%ris"r%*en&e' I -o% * i4e to a**

.y "er&e"tion on t+ose 2%estions -+i&+ .ay /e a s+a*e

at a varian&e -it+ 0rot+er Kat1%' J! T+e re evan&e

of t+ose 2%estions is "erennia an* t+ey are /o%n* to

fi)%re in *e&isions of t+is Co%rt in vario%s

sit%ations! So -+i e .a4in) an a%t+oritative

"rono%n&e.ent on t+ose 2%estions t+e Constit%tion

0en&+ .ay &onsi*er t+e vie-s of /ot+ of %s!

5! T+e rationa e of t+e *o&trine of Se"aration of

Po-ers' to .y .in*' is to %"+o * in*ivi*%a i/erty

an* r% e of a-! Vestin) of a "o-er in one

a%t+ority o/vio%s y "ro.otes tyranny! T+erefore' t+e

"rin&i" e of Se"aration of Po-ers +as to /e vie-e*

t+ro%)+ t+e "ris. of &onstit%tiona is. an* for

%"+o *in) t+e )oa s of 1%sti&e in its f% .a)nit%*e!

6! T+e *o&trine is nor.a y asso&iate* -it+ t+e

Fren&+ P+i oso"+er Montes2%ie%' /%t t+e ori)in of

t+is "rin&i" e &an /e tra&e* /a&4 to Aristot e -+o

o"ine* t+at )overn.ent s+o% * /e &o."ose* of t+ree

or)ans' na.e y' t+e 7*e i/erative8 #i!e e)is ative$'

t+e .a)isteria #i!e!' e9e&%tive$ an* t+e 1%*i&ia !

Ho-ever t+e s&o"e of t+is *o&trine -as not -or4e* o%t

16


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f% y %nti Lo&4e an* Montes2%ie% e a/orate* t+is

&on&e"t in ,: t+ Cent%ry! Fo o-in) t+e "rin&i" es of

Jo+n Lo&4e' Ja.es Ma*ison -rote in t+e Fe*era ist

Pa"ers' #es" No!6;$ t+at! T+e va %e of t+is *o&trine ies in t+e fa&t

t+at it see4s to "reserve +%.an i/erty /y avoi*in)

t+e &on&entration of "o-ers in one "erson or /o*y of

"ersons! T+is &on&e"t of se"aration of "o-er or of

*ivi*e* a%t+ority is & ear y -oven in t+e fa/ri& of

A.eri&an Constit%tiona La-!

?! Se"aration of "o-ers .ay' t+erefore' /e a

" a%si/ e Constit%tiona *o&trine /%t as a .atter of

"ra&ti&e a &o." ete se"aration is never "ossi/ e! In

a .o*ern )overn.enta set %"' t+e e)is ative'

e9e&%tive an* 1%*i&ia f%n&tions .ay over a"' an* t+e

"o-er e9er&ise* /y t+ese t+ree /ran&+es are

"otentia y &oe9tensive( as vie-e* /y C+ief J%sti&e

Mars+a in Os/orn V! 0an4 of U!S! ? L!E*!3@6 #at

17


18/35

"a)e 333 of t+e re"ort$! J%sti&e Fran4f%rter of t+e

U!S! S%"re.e Co%rt a so o/serve* t+at 7enfor&e.ent of

a ri)i* &on&e"tion of se"aration of "o-ers -o% * .a4e

.o*ern )overn.ent i."ossi/ e!8#See< S&+-art A.eri&an

Constit%tion La-' "a)e 5,@$!

;! T+e Constit%tiona a- of En) an* re&o)ni es

t+is *o&trine /%t t+is -as never )iven a

Constit%tiona stat%s nor -as it t+eoreti&a y

a&&e"te*! Ho-ever in severa 1%*).ents' t+e e9isten&e

of t+is *o&trine +as /een a&4no- e*)e*! #See t+e

s"ee&+ of Lor* Di" o&4 in i& / & oth%$/ vs! Th%

1 %%& B #, ;?$ , A!E!R 5>5' at "a)e 5;@ #P a&it%.

)($' ' 3o$t St%% / Li5it% & Oth%$/ vs! Si$/ &

oth%$/ re"orte* in #, :@$ , A!E!R! >3 ' t+e o"inion

of Lor* Di" o&4 at >6, " a&it%.' )(' +( an* i( an*

t+at of Lor* S&ar.an at "a)e >>;' t+ere t+e earne*

1%*)e a&&e"te* t+at in t+e a/sen&e of stat%te' 1%*)es

are virt%a y a- .a4ers(' #" a&it%. &($ an* t+e

vie- of Lor* Te." e.an in vs! o5% O i % &

&oth%$ ' re"orte* in #, 5$ 5 A!E!R! >5;' at "a)e

>6@' " a&it%. f(!

18


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:! T+e *o&trine +as /een .ost *ire&t y

in&or"orate* in t+e U!S! Constit%tion /y its

"rovisions i4e 7a e)is ative "o-ers s+a /e

veste* in a Con)ress #Arti& e I' Se&tion ,$' 7T+e

e9e&%tive "o-ers s+a /e veste* in a Presi*ent8

#Arti& e II' Se&tion ,$ an* 7t+e 1%*i&ia "o-ers

s+a /e veste* in one S%"re.e Co%rt an* in s%&+

inferior &o%rts as Con)ress .ay fro. ti.e to ti.e

or*ain an* esta/ is+8 #Arti& e III' Se&tion ,$!

! In o%r Constit%tion t+ere is no s%&+ *efine*

an* e9"ress in&or"oration of t+e *o&trine of

Se"aration of Po-er' save an* e9&e"t t+at t+e

E9e&%tive "o-er of t+e Union is veste* in t+e

Presi*ent %n*er Arti& e >5#,$ an* si.i ar y t+e

E9e&%tive "o-er of t+e State is veste* on t+e

overnor %n*er Arti& e ,>6#,$! 0%t so far as

e)is ative an* 1%*i&ia "o-ers are &on&erne* t+ey

are not veste* on any a%t+ority! Un*er Arti& e >@'

one of t+e *ire&tive "rin&i" es of State "o i&y'

State is to ta4e ste"s to se"arate t+e 1%*i&iary fro.

t+e e9e&%tive in t+e "%/ i& servi&es of t+e State!

0%t t+is +as not+in) to *o -it+ t+e vestin) of "o-er!

19


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,@! Un*er o%r Constit%tion t+e e9e&%tive is en*o-e*

-it+ &ertain e)is ative "o-ers' for instan&e t+e

Or*inan&e .a4in) "o-ers %n*er Arti& e ,35 an* Arti& e

3,5! It a so +as &ertain 1%*i&ia "o-ers %n*er

Arti& e ,@5 an* Arti& e , 3! T+e e)is at%re is a so

e."o-ere* to e9er&ise &ertain 1%*i&ia "o-ers %n*er

Arti& e ,@> an* Arti& e , >! T+e 1%*i&iary a so

e9er&ises &ertain e)is ative an* e9e&%tive "o-ers

%n*er Arti& es ,6>' ,6?' 33; an* 33 !

,,! In a**ition' t+e e9e&%tive a so e9er&ises

s%/stantia 2%asi=1%*i&ia "o-ers %n*er severa

stat%tory "rovisions -+ere/y Tri/%na s +ave /een set

%"! T+ese Tri/%na s' -it+ a .ost t+e tra""in)s of a

Co%rt' *e&i*e t+e is /et-een t+e "arties! Of &o%rse'

t+e sa.e is s%/1e&t to -e 4no-n )ro%n*s of

interferen&e /y -rit &o%rt %n*er 1%*i&ia revie-!

T+e Par ia.ent' t+e +i)+est e)is ative /o*y in t+is

Co%ntry a so e9er&ises 2%asi=1%*i&ia "o-er in t+e

&ase of i."ea&+.ent of 1%*)es Art! ,36#>$ an* Art!

3,;G an* a so in res"e&t of &onte."t of e)is at%res

Art! , 6#5$G!

,3! J%sti&e Pat+a4 #as His Lor*s+i" t+en -as$

20


21/35

e9" aine* t+ese "rin&i" es in B & h ti o$ h

vs! &io& o I& i re"orte* in #, :6$ 5 SCC ,?,' an*

-+i&+ is of so.e re evan&e in t+e &onte9t an* -+i&+ I

2%ote


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is re2%ire* to *o &o." ete 1%sti&e in t+e &ase!

T+ose t-o Arti& es #Arti& e ,6, an* ,63$ are set

o%t


23/35

or)ans into -ater=ti)+t &o."art.ents!

,>! In t+is &onte9t t+e *ire&tion of J%sti&e

0+a)-ati #as His Lor*s+i" t+en -as$ in t+e

Constit%tion 0en&+ *e&ision in i&%$ i / vs!

&io& o I& i B #, :@$ 5 SCC ?3>G' is very a"t an*

is 2%ote*$ S%"" SCC ,G! In "ara 6? at "a)e 63

of t+e re"ort t+e earne* C+ief J%sti&e & ear y

state*


24/35

an* A%stra ia! In o%r Constit%tion t+ere isse"aration of "o-ers in a /roa* sense t+e*o&trine of se"aration of "o-ers asre&o)ni e* in A.eri&a is not a"" i&a/ e too%r &o%ntry!8

,;! T+e Learne* C+ief J%sti&e .a*e a &ate)ori&a

fin*in) at "ara 6; #"a)e 63$ t+at t+e ri)i*

se"aration of "o-ers as %n*er A.eri&an Constit%tion

or A%stra ian Constit%tion *oes not a"" y to o%r

&o%ntry!

,:! In I& i$ N%h$ & hi S%"raG t+e vie- of

C+ief J%sti&e Ray -as affir.e* /y J%sti&e C+an*ra&+%*

in "ara ?:6 at ")! 3> an* -+i&+ are very "ertinent

in "resent &onte9t an* I 2%ote


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"o-ers 7is not a *o&trinaire &on&e"t to/e .a*e %se of -it+ "e*anti& ri)o%r!T+ere .%st /e sensi/ e a""ro9i.ation't+ere .%st /e e asti&ity of a*1%st.entin res"onse to t+e "ra&ti&a ne&essities

of ovt! -+i&+ &annot foresee to*ay t+e*eve o".ents of to.orro- in t+eir near yinfinite variety8! T+%s' even inA.eri&a' *es"ite t+e t+eory t+at t+e

e)is at%re &annot *e e)ate its "o-er tot+e e9e&%tive! a +ost of r% es an*re)% ations are "asse* /y non=

e)is ative /o*ies' -+i&+ +ave /een1%*i&ia y re&o)nise* as va i*!

, ! In anot+er Constit%tion 0en&+ J%*).ent in A! K!

Roy v! Union of In*ia AIR , :3 SC ;,@ C+ief J%sti&e

C+an*ra&+%* s"ea4in) for t+e .a1ority +e * at "ara 35

")! ;35 t+at 7o%r &onstit%tion *oes not fo o- t+e

A.eri&an "attern of stri&t se"aration of "o-ers8

3@! It .ay /e note* t+at t+is Co%rt +as on severa

o&&asions iss%e* *ire&tions' *ire&tives in res"e&t of

t+ose sit%ations -+i&+ are not &overe* /y any a-!

T+e *e&ision in Vi/ vs! St t% o R : /th & '

#, ;$ ? SCC 36,G' is one s%&+ instan&e -+erein a

t+ree=J%*)e 0en&+ of t+is Co%rt )ave severa

*ire&tions to "revent se9%a +arass.ent of -o.en at

t+e -or4" a&e! Ta4in) into a&&o%nt t+e 7a/sen&e of

ena&te* a-8 to "rovi*e for effe&tive enfor&e.ent of

t+e ri)+t of )en*er e2%a ity an* )%arantee a)ainst

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se9%a +arass.ent' C+ief J%sti&e Ver.a +e * t+at

)%i*e ines an* nor.s )iven /y t+e Co%rt -i +o * t+e

fie * %nti e)is ation -as ena&te* for t+e "%r"ose!

It -as & arifie* t+at t+is Co%rt -as a&tin) %n*er

Arti& e 53 of t+e Constit%tion an* t+e *ire&tions

7-o% * /e treate* as t+e a- *e& are* /y t+e Co%rt

%n*er Arti& e ,6, of t+e Constit%tion!8 #"ara ,?$

3,! Si.i ar y' t+e S%"re.e Co%rt iss%e* *ire&tions

re)ar*in) t+e "ro&e*%re an* t+e ne&essary "re&a%tions

to /e fo o-e* in t+e a*o"tion of In*ian &+i *ren /y

forei)n a*o"tive "arents! +i e t+ere -as no a- to

re)% ate inter=&o%ntry a*o"tions' 0+a)-ati J!' #as

His Lor*s+i" t+en -as$ in L ;5i &t P & %< vs! &io&

o I& i + AIR , :; SC 353G' for.% ate* an entire

s&+e.e for re)% atin) inter=&o%ntry an* intra=&o%ntry

a*o"tions! T+is is an e9a." e of 1%*i&iary fi in) %"

t+e voi* /y )ivin) *ire&tions -+i&+ are sti +o *in)

t+e fie *!

33! S%&+ 1%*i&ia intervention -+en t+ere are )a"s

in t+e e)is ation +as serve* t+e &a%se of 1%sti&e!

It .ay /e note* t+at t+e 1%*)es .a4e a- is a so

s+are* /y severa a&&o." is+e* 1%rists! J%*)e Ri&+ar*

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28/35

3>! C+ief J%sti&e 0+a)-ati(s vie- in t+is re)ar* is

in t%ne -it+ t+e 1%rists .entione* a/ove! His

Lor*s+i" +e * in His Lor*s+i"(s a**ress on t+e

Do.esti& A"" i&ation of H%.an Ri)+ts Nor.s( = 7It is

re&o)ni e* on a +an*s t+at 1%*)es *o not .ere y

*is&over a-' /%t t+ey a so .a4e a- Even -+en a

1%*)e is &on&erne* -it+ inter"retation of a 0i of

Ri)+ts or a stat%te' t+ere is a." e s&o"e for +i. to

*eve o" an* .o% * t+e a-! It is +e -+o inf%ses ife

an* / oo* into t+e *ry s4e eton "rovi*e* /y t+e

e)is at%re an* &reates a ivin) or)anis. a""ro"riate

an* a*e2%ate to .eet t+e nee*s of t+e so&iety an* /y

t+%s .a4in) an* .o% *in) t+e a-' +e ta4es "art in

t+e -or4 of &reation an* t+is is .%&+ .ore tr%e in

t+e &ase of inter"retation of t+e Constit%tion

reatness on t+e 0en&+ ies in &reativity an* it is

on y t+ro%)+ /o * an* i.a)inative inter"retation t+at

t+e a- &an /e .o% *e* an* *eve o"e* an* +%.an ri)+ts

a*van&e* To .eet t+e nee*s of t+e so&iety' t+e

1%*)es *o .a4e a- an* it is no- re&o)ni e*

every-+ere t+at 1%*)es ta4e "art in t+is a- .a4in)

f%n&tion an*' t+erefore' 1%*)es .a4e a-!8

3?! T+e a-=.a4in) ro e of t+is Co%rt +as a so /een

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a&4no- e*)e* in vario%s ot+er *e&isions as -e ! In

t+is &onte9t' one .%st a""re&iate t+e s&o"e an* a./it

of Arti& es ,6, an* ,63!

3;! In so far as Arti& e ,6, is &on&erne*'

Sa/yasa&+i M%4+ar1i(s' C!J!' vie- is of "ri.ary

i."ortan&e! In '% hi T$ &/3o$t Co$3o$ tio& vs! '.T.C.

= oo$ Co&>$%//+ #AIR , , SC ,@,$' t+e earne*

1%*)e notes t+at -e .%st *o a-ay -it+ t+e &+i *is+

fi&tion t+at a- is not .a*e /y t+e 1%*i&iary( an*

&ites A%stin(s *es&ri"tion of t+e 0 a&4stonian

Prin&i" e in t+is re)ar*! M%4+ar1i J! a so refers to

t+e o/servations .a*e /y C+ief J%sti&e S%//a Rao in

Golak Nath vs! State of Punjab , #AIR , ?; SC ,?65 at

,??; )+ -+erein it -as "ointe* o%t t+at Arti& e ,6,

an* Arti& e ,63 7are *esi)ne* y .a*e &o."re+ensive to

ena/ e t+e S%"re.e Co%rt to *e& are a- an* to )ive

s%&+ *ire&tions or "ass s%&+ or*ers' as are ne&essary

to *o &o." ete 1%sti&e! S%//a Rao C!J! +a* .a*e t+e

fo o-in) o/servation = 7t+e e9"ression *e& are*( is

-i*er t+an t+e -or*s fo%n* or .a*e(! To *e& are is

to anno%n&e o"inion! In*ee*' t+e atter invo ves t+e

"ro&ess' -+i e t+e for.er e9"resses res% t!

Inter"retation' as&ertain.ent an* evo %tion are "arts

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of t+e "ro&ess' -+i e t+at inter"rete*' as&ertaine*

or evo ve* is *e& are* as a-! T+e a- *e& are* /y

t+is Co%rt is t+e a- of t+e an*! To *eny t+is "o-er

to t+is Co%rt on t+e /asis of so.e o%t.o*e* t+eory

t+at t+e Co%rt on y fin*s a- /%t *oes not .a4e it'

is to .a4e ineffe&tive t+e "o-erf% instr%.ents of

1%sti&e " a&e* in t+e +an*s of t+e +i)+est 1%*i&iary

of t+is Co%ntry!8#"ara >@$

3:! T+is "arti&% ar vie- of C+ief J%sti&e S%//a

Rao' to .y .in*' +as not /een *e"arte* fro.! M!P!

Jain in +is arti& e tit e* T+e S%"re.e Co%rt an*

F%n*a.enta Ri)+ts( &o..ents on t+is o/servation in

o N th #s%"ra$ an* "oints o%t t+at t+e

*e& aratory t+eory -+i&+ says t+at 1%*)es on y

*e& are t+e a- /%t *o not .a4e it +as /een *is&ar*e*

even in 0ritain an* t+e )enera &onsens%s of o"inion

at t+e "resent *ays is t+at ne- a- is &reate* /y t+e

1%*i&iary( # in Fi t< *% $/ o th% S 3$%5% Co $t? It/

$ /3 & R% h $! Mr! Jain refers to L oy*(s

Intro*%&tion to J%ris"r%*en&e' -+erein it is "ointe*

o%t +o- t+ere re.ains a &onsens%s of o"inion t+at'

-it+in &ertain narro- an* & ear y *efine* i.its' ne-

a- is &reate* /y t+e 1%*i&iary! As is ri)+t y

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t+at Arti& e ,63 is an i."ortant &onstit%tiona "o-er

)rante* to t+e Co%rt to "rote&t its &iti ens! T+e

earne* 1%*)e o/serve* B In a )iven sit%ation -+en

a-s are fo%n* to /e ina*e2%ate for t+e "%r"oses of

)rant of re ief' t+e Co%rt &an e9er&ise its

1%ris*i&tion %n*er Arti& e ,63 of t+e Constit%tion!(

# 3 $ "" $ In "ara 5 ' He)*e J! refers to t+e

*e&isions in Visaka vs! State of Rajasthan ' #, ;$ ?

SCC 36,G an* Vi&%%t N $ i& vs! &io& o I& i '

# , :$ , SCC 33?G' to note t+at t+e *ire&tions

iss%e* /y t+e Co%rt %n*er Arti& e ,63 for. t+e a- of

t+e an* in t+e a/sen&e of any s%/stantive a-

&overin) t+at fie *! S%&+ *ire&tions' a&&or*in) to

His Lor*s+i"' fi t+e va&%%.( %nti t+e e)is at%re

ena&ts s%/stantive a-!

5@! e .ay note +ere t+at t+is atte."te*

e)is ation /y t+is Co%rt +as /een a"" a%*e*

internationa y! Referen&e in t+is &onne&tion .ay /e

.a*e to an arti& e on Se"aration of Po-ers /y N! !

0ar/er in 3@@, Ca./ri*)e La- Jo%rna #Vo ! ?@ ")!

> $! At "a)e :3 of t+e arti& e' t+e earne* a%t+or

+as sai*


33/35

7T+ir* y' it is "ossi/ e for a &o%rt*e i/erate y to *e"art fro. t+e tria*i&str%&t%re in or*er to &o./at t+ereso%r&e *efi&ien&ies of iti)ants! Asinterestin) e9a." e of t+is &an /e fo%n*

in In*ia -ere t+e S%"re.e Co%rt +asatte."te* to .eet t+e instit%tiona&+a en)es "ose* /y a &o./ination of a-ea4 e)is ation an* a "oor &iti enry!T+e S%"re.e Co%rt +as re a9e* t+e for.arestri&tions on a"" i&ations to t+e&o%rt! An a"" i&ation &an /e .a*e /y a

etter' or even a "ost&ar*' a**resse* tot+e &o%rt!8

5,! F%rt+er it is "ointe* at "a)e :5 t+at SCC ?6;G! T+e earne* La- Lor*

re&o)ni e* t+at t+e "rin&i" e of #a$ s%staina/ e

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*eve o".ent' #/$ "re&a%tionary "rin&i" e an* #&$

"o %ter "ays= /e&a.e "art of t+e In*ian a- in vie-

of t+e sai* 1%*).ent!

55! Co..entin) on Ve ores Citi ens( 1%*).ent an*

*evisin) of re.e*ies /y t+is Co%rt Lor* oo f +as

sai* an* -+i&+ I 2%oteG

56! For t+e reasons *is&%sse* a/ove' I a. +%./ y of

t+e vie- t+at t+e 2%estions for.% ate* /y J%sti&e

Kat1% .ay /e &onsi*ere* /y t+e Constit%tion 0en&+ in

t+e /a&4)ro%n* of t+e in+erent "o-er of t+is Co%rt

%n*er Arti& e ,6, an* Arti& e ,63! 0ot+ t+ese "o-ers

are %ni2%e an* "ossi/ y in no ot+er 1%ris"r%*en&e +ast+e +i)+est Co%rt /een e."o-ere* /y s%&+ "rovisions!

T+at is -+y it +as /een o/serve* t+at t+e S%"re.e

Co%rt itse f +as /een a so%r&e of a- in as .%&+ as

t+is Co%rt +e *


35/35

e9istin) a- /%t *o not ena&t any fres+a-' is not in 4ee"in) -it+ t+e " enary

f%n&tion of t+e S%"re.e Co%rt %n*erArti& e ,6, of t+e Constit%tion' for t+eCo%rt is not .ere y t+e inter"reter of

t+e a- as e9istin) /%t .%&+ /eyon*t+at! T+e Co%rt as a -in) of t+e Stateis /y itse f a so%r&e of a-! T+e a- is-+at t+e Co%rt says it is! Patent y t+eHi)+ Co%rt fe into an error in itsa""re&iation of t+e ro e of t+is Co%rt!8

Nand Kishore . State of Punjab + (!99#)6 SCC 6!4+ 3 $ !7 G

5>! Ho-ever' I a)ree -it+ a t+e *ire&tions )iven

/y /rot+er Kat1%' J!' an* t+e &ase .ay /e " a&e*

/efore t+e Hon(/ e C+ief J%sti&e for referrin) t+e

2%estions /efore t+e Constit%tion 0en&+!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!J!Ne- De +i #ASOK KUMAR AN UL $Nove./er ,,' 3@@

2009 11 11 Student Election Case

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Transcript of 2009 11 11 Student Election Case