'Congress has no moral authority to question judiciary', says Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out at the Congress after the party attacked the Narendra Modi government over the KM Joseph stalemate. Prasad alleged that the Congress has a record of meting out unfair and unconstitutional treatment to the judiciary.

"Congress Party has no moral authority or stand to ask questions about the dignity of the judiciary from us. The whole record of Congress party is littered with repeated instances as to how the judiciary of India was supposed to be compromised," Prasad told ANI.

Earlier in the day, the government has returned to the Supreme Court collegium its recommendation to elevate Justice K M Joseph to the top court. The Centre has asked the collegium to reconsider its decision.

The Centre while clearing the name of Indu Malhotra had kept the recommendation regarding Justice Joseph on hold. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court rejected a petition that sought a stay on making Indu Malhotra the judge of the Supreme Court.

While rejecting the plea filed by Indira Jaisingh, senior advocate, the court said that the government is well within its right to send back a judge's name for the recommendation and in such an eventuality the Collegium will deal with it in accordance with the judicial precedent and Constitution.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram earlier today questioned the government's inaction on the Collegium's recommendation regarding KM Joseph.

"What is holding up Justice K M Joseph's appointment? His State or his religion or his judgement in the Uttarakhand case?" Chidambaram asked, referring to Joseph's 2016 judgment in which he set aside President's rule in Uttarakhand.

Chidambaram's comments came before reports emerged of the Centre asking the Collegium to reconsider elevating KM Joseph to the Supreme Court.