As the Constitution Bench begins hearing today, CJI Gavai’s meeting with President Murmu sparks controversy. Has judicial neutrality and justice already been compromised?
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NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India BR Gavai met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan just a day before a Constitution Bench, led by him, was set to begin hearing her presidential reference. The reference seeks a definitive opinion on the extent of the President’s powers to sit on bills indefinitely.
The timing of the meeting has raised questions over judicial propriety and the perception of impartiality. The judiciary is often regarded as the last bastion of neutrality, and perception, as much as substance, underpins public trust. Critics argue that such interactions, even if perfectly proper, can inadvertently cast shadows over the independence of the bench.
This incident raises an essential question,
When did judges start overlooking that perception is foundational to the judiciary?
In a democracy, the legitimacy of judicial decisions is built not only on legal reasoning but also on public confidence in an unbiased process.
While the CJI’s meeting with the President may be ceremonial or routine, its proximity to a high-stakes reference makes it a matter worth scrutiny. Legal commentators are likely to watch the upcoming hearings closely, as the balance between the powers of the President and judicial interpretation will shape constitutional discourse for years to come.
CASE TITLE:
Re: Assent, Withholding, or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and President of India
SPL.REF. No. 1/2025 XVII-A
Questions referred by the President under Article 143 of the Constitution:
Judgement | State of Tamil Nadu v Governor of Tamil Nadu:
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