Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and former Law Minister H R Bhardwaj today hailed former Chief Justice of India late Y K Sabharwal as a "tough", "no- nonsense" and "dignified" judge saying he delivered landmark judgments including quashing of President's rule imposed in Bihar in 2005 by UPA-I government.
Speaking at the inaugural function of a moot court hall christened after Justice Sabharwal at National Law University here, the two leaders referred to the judgments delivered by him on various contentious issues with political overtones in which his toughness was reflected.
Jaitley gave examples of the late CJI's handling of judgments on election laws, arbitrary allotment of petrol pumps, dissolution of state assemblies including that of Bihar assembly when Buta Singh was the Governor, while Bhardwaj recalled his verdict quashing Centre's decision to impose President's rule in Bihar.
Bhardwaj, who was the law minister in UPA-I regime, said he had met Justice Sabharwal but he didn't have the courage to say anything on the imposition of President's rule in Bihar which was heard by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by him.
"When President's rule was imposed (in Bihar in 2005), the Supreme Court took upfront to this and many eminent lawyers argued in the matter. My three Cabinet colleagues came to me and said you are out now, you were lucky that you survived so long. I said no problem, it is the Rashtrapati who has approved the promulgation of President's rule.
"I took that stand. Then I thought why can't I see Sabharwal. I had access to his house, we had coffee and discussion but I could not muster the courage to tell him to help me.
"Later, other judges who sat on the bench quashed that presidential promulgation with the government facing a lot of trouble in Bihar. Buta Singh lost his governorship. But he did not say anything neither I did," Bhardwaj said in his speech.
Jaitley made a special mention of his verdict on Ninth Schedule saying "it will go down as probably the most important judgments".
"Y K Sabharwal was one of the greatest judges and the one who held the court together. Inside the court, he was a tough, no nonsense judge. But outside the courtroom, he always maintained the social chord," he said.
(REOPENS DEL65)
On the tax rates under IDS scheme, Jaitley said it is not easy to design such schemes and keeping ethical and legitimate considerations in mind, the rates under the scheme have been designed.
Jaitley further said the relationship between the taxmen and the assessee is undergoing change though it is still a work in progress.
"The change will be visible in future. Apprehensions and fears need to be eliminated and discretions will have to disappear," he said.
On Gold Monetisation Scheme, the Finance Minister said, the scheme is picking up.
To make the Gold Monetisation Scheme more attractive, the government has allowed investors to redeem the deposits in gold also.
For redemption of the deposit in gold, an administrative charge of 0.2 per cent of the notional redemption amount would be levied from the depositor in Indian rupees.
