Doctrine of separation of power should be respected: Congress

In the backdrop of a Supreme Court judge questioning the continuance of Vilasrao Deshmukh in the Union Cabinet, Congress today said every institution must respect the doctrine of separation of power enshrined in the Constitution.

Maintaining that the appropriate functioning of all institutioins was essential for a healthy democratic polity, party spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "Within the constitutional scheme, there is a very time tested and enduring concept called the doctrine of separation of power."

"While we respect the judiciary and have the utmost reverence for their judgements, I think each institution or all instituions must respect this doctrine. This would entail a healthy functioning of our democratic polity," Tewari added.

Replying to a volley of questions on the issue, the Congress leader said that each of the institutions should act according to the work assigned to it by the Constitution.

The party had, earlier, remained non-committal on the fate of Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, whose continuance in the government was questioned by a Supreme Court judge for influencing police from taking action against a Congress MLA in a money lending case when he was chief minister of Maharashtra.

The rural development minister, who had earlier faced severe criticism from the Supreme Court in the case, had come under further attack at a public function in Mumbai four days back with an apex court judge questioning his continuance in government.

"It is sad and shocking to see how the government allows and appreciates such ministers. Not only that, it also gives them a Cabinet post. It is not a dignified act and I would call it a shameless act," Justice AK Ganguly said at a seminar in Mumbai four days back.