TN CM wants peace with judiciary, seeks cooperation

Chennai, Feb 7: Three days after his ministerial colleague sparked a row by castigating High Court judges for ''transgressing their limits,'' Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today offered to make peace with the judiciary, seeking cooperation from all sides for the ''impartial'' functioning of Courts and the Government without any confrontation.

''There is no second opinion that the judiciary and the Government should not confront with each other in the interest of democracy,'' he said in a statement here.

Acknowledging that a few unsavoury incidents had occurred in both the sides, he, however, said chance should not be given to those who attempted to exploit the situation and blow it up out of proportion.

Mr Karunanidhi said he had always abided by law in his public life and even if he had to violate law during struggles on political and social issues, he had never shied away from facing the consequences.

The octogenarian leader said he had learnt through his experience that there was a vast difference in approaching the judiciary while being in the Opposition and while being at the helm of affairs.

''At both the situations, I have never projected that I am uncontrolled by law,'' he added.

Recalling his courtesy visit to the residence of Madras High Court Chief Justice A P Shah in July last, Mr Karunanidhi said though the High Court had put forth its requirements to the previous AIADMK Government for implementation, the relevant notes and files were kept pending by the AIADMK regime. However, the DMK Government had won the appreciation of judges by expeditiously implementing a majority of works and fulfilling the requirements of the High Court, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said some vested interests, who had the habit of adopting confrontationist approach towards court, did not like the cordial relationship prevailing between the Government and the judiciary.

Though State Election Commissioner D Chandrasekaran had conducted civil elections peacefully more than one lakh places across the state but some people wanted to politicise ''one or two untoward incidents' that occurred in Chennai, he said.

Those vested interests were also bent upon making the judiciary believe them due to which some ''unsavoury incidents'' had happened between the Government and the judiciary, he added.

UNI