Judges not superior to democratically-elected Govt: DMK

Chennai, Feb 4 (UNI) In a direct confrontation with the judiciary, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu today strongly hit out at High Court judges, saying they were not powerful than a democratically-elected Government.

Speaking at a marriage function here in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, senior DMK leader and Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said though no motives could be attributed to judges, their verdicts were open to criticisms.

Citing Madras High Court's recent split verdict on the reported violence during Chennai Corporation polls and the Chief Justice's query to the Government whether it was acceptable to appointment of observers for corporation re-poll, he said the judges should function within their limits and they had no legal right to criticise a Chief Minister or unnecessarily seek opinions from the Government.

Endorsing his views, Mr Karunanidhi, who spoke later, said Mr Veerasamy had finally ''belled the cat.'' ''At least after this, let justice and honesty be fostered in the country,'' he added.

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