People's faith in judiciary strong: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined that the rule of law is the basis of social transformation and the changes in the system should be rational as per law. He said the law is supreme and the people of India have strong faith in the judiciary.

The Prime Minister was addressing the two-day International Judicial Conference organised by the Supreme Court in New Delhi. In an apparent remark on the recent Supreme Court's decisions on Ayodhya land dispute, Modi said that a lot of brainstorming had taken prior to the decision. But people have accepted the verdict wholeheartedly.

The Prime Minister said, it is a matter of pride that the Indian judiciary, legislature and executive have been carrying forward the spirit of the Constitution by respecting each other's roles. He also said, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's life was devoted to truth and service, which are considered the foundation of the judiciary.

Modi hailed the Supreme Court for redefining environmental jurisprudence saying the judiciary has struck balance between development and environment. He said there was a time when it was said that swift growth and the protection of the environment cannot take place together. But India has changed this perspective and the country is progressing swiftly while also increasing its forest cover.

The Prime Minister said, the Indian judicial system has embraced technology for effective delivery of justice. He said the government is trying to connect each court to the e-court Integrated Mission Mode Project. Modi added that the National Judicial Data Grid will also make court procedures easier.

The Prime Minister said the government has repealed 1500 obsolete laws and came out with new laws related to transgender rights and abolishing Triple Talaq.

Recalling contributions towards gender justice, he said, no country or society of the world can claim to achieve holistic development without gender justice.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde said the Constitution has created a strong and independent judiciary, India has strived to keep this basic feature intact.

He said India is a melting pot of cultures and it has assimilated offshore cultures.

The CJI emphasized on fundamental duties calling it a chapter often forgotten by the citizenry. The CJI added that exercise of rights should be determined by duties too.

Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that in a democracy both the dissent and populism should be welcomed but populism becomes a problem when it impinges upon the constitutional mandate.

He also said Governance must be left for the elected representatives. Prasad said terrorists and corrupt people have no right to privacy and such persons should not be allowed to abuse the system.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice L Nageshwara Rao hailed the recent judgment on privacy and suggested that Courts have to provide an interpretation of the law which can accommodate the changing circumstances in the society.

Attorney General K K Venugopal expressed concern over non-eradication of poverty and equated the same to violation of human rights. He also said the Supreme Court has stepped in wherever the State has failed to produce a result.

Justice N V Ramana of the Supreme Court expressed concern on the issues of gender inequality.

Chief Justice Robert Reed of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom will deliver a keynote address later in the day.

Legal luminaries from across the world are participating in the conference with the Theme: Judiciary and the changing world.