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at Centre said that Yeddyurappa should step down. And they asked me to be the chief minister of
Karnataka. I was Member of Parliament here. So, I resigned from Parliament membership. Then
I was asked to be in Karnataka as chief minister. For 11 months 6 days, I was chief minister of
Karnataka. Again, there was turbulence in my party. So, to keep my party intact, I was asked to
step down. And Jagadeesh Shettar became the chief minister. I became the member of
Legislative Council. My party asked me to lead the party as Opposition Leader in the Upper
House, till the Last Lok Sabha Election. Last Lok Sabha Election, I contested from Banglore
North. And won with a huge margin of 2 lakh 30 thousand votes. Then, in Narendra Modi's
government, initially I was placed as Railways Minister. Subsequent to induction of Suresh
Prabhu as Railways Minister, I was placed in Ministry of Law and Justice.
Q: What is your basic contribution during Chief Minister of Karnataka?
Ans: You might have heard, Right to Services Act, The Sakala Programme. The people of the
state should get government services within stipulated time. Otherwise, the officer will be
penalized. It's a wonderful concept initiated by Government of Karnataka during my regime.
And, now 685 government services have been included in this programme. And all the services
will be delivered within stipulated period. Even, I have written a letter to honourable Prime
Minister in this regard. And they are also working on it. Even the Prime Minister's award was
given to Karnataka Government for this Sakala Programme. Even a delegation from Pakistan
government had come to Karnataka to study this. United Nation observed that this is one of the
prime activity that can be undertaken by any government to give good governance. There was so
many constraint for investors to invest in the state. We took a firm stand and provided necessary
facilities, within 24 hours of date of application. So, many investors came. Even during my
tenure, the law and order problem was under control across the state. Even in my Chief
Minister's chamber, CCTV camera had been installed. It was connected to YouTube. People can
see what's going on Chief Minister's chamber. So, a transparent administration was there during
my tenure as Chief Minister.
Q: As a former Chief Minister how you would rate the performance of the present
Congress government in general and Chief Minister in Particular?
Ans: I don't want to mention performance of the ministers individually. Totally, there's no
governance in Karnataka. The present chief minister Siddaramaiah was the leader of opposition
for five years. He was also the deputy chief minister. He has given 10 budget to the Karnataka
Government. But, after becoming chief minister, his governance totally collapsed. There's a
vertical division in the Congress party. The party president Parameswar led one group and the
team of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are fighting like anything. He is concentrating only to keep
his chair intact. The administration has totally collapsed. The law and order has gone to such an
extent that each and every day there's agitation, there're murders and rapes cases happening,
across the state. They have no administrative skill.
Q: Siddaramaiah holds the image as a grass root level chief minister and a popular person.
Then, why he is failing?
Ans: His concept is confined to Minorities, Dalits. I don't say that it is not good. But, he is
limiting to this. He has no foresight. He has no future plan for Karnataka. How the Karnataka
should be ruled or governed. The future plan of action. He is working for temporary benefits and
cheap popularity. There's no permanent project for the sate of Karnataka. And he has got his own
team, who came from Janata Party. This six or seven person are in and around Siddaramaiah.
According to their direction Siddaramaiah is working. The administration has totally collapsed
for this.
Q: Are you confident of coming back to power in Karnataka's Next Election?
Ans: It's quite evident. Recently you might have seen. In Karnataka more than 525 farmers have
committed suicide in the recent six months. And government has not taken any steps, any
initiation to give a moral boost to the farmers not to do such thing. No compensation is given to
them. Out of 525 only 120 have received the compensation. Even there's huge pressure from
farmers and political parties to give one time benefit to the farmers like loan waivers. Even
farmers are not getting electricity for irrigation and agriculture. Now, people thinking that they
have elected a wrong party. Due earlier division in BJP party and other issues, the vote switched
to Congress. Now the people felt that BJP in Karnataka has taken the farmers issue. We're
touring across the state. Huge gathering are there during our rallies. Now they're requesting BJP.
During BJP, we waived the loan. Waived the interest. We gave them free electricity. We gave all
the benefits to the farmers, so that they can do agriculture. Now, everything has gone. Now,
farmer feeling that BJP should come to farmer. In BJP, we're united again. We held 62 rallies in
Karnataka and people came in huge numbers. Where ever we went, people said that BJP should
come to power. Even in recent Banglore Corporation Election, out of 198, BJP won 100 seats.
People feel that BJP is the right party that can serve the people and can give good governance.
Q: Don't you think, still Siddaramaiah proved to be more smarter by in spite of being
minority he was succeeded in putting his man as Chairman of Banglore Municipal
Corporation?
Ans: To keep away BJP to come to power, JDS joined hand with Congress and thus they took
the position. MP, MLA, MLC have the voting rights in this. Because of that they got the power.
Otherwise, purely looking into the election result, we got 100 out of 198 seats.
Q: What is the status of the Centre and State Relationship in Karnataka?
Ans: It's not good. Not because of the Central Government, but only because of the State
Government. You can see, the Niti Ayoga, Chief minister who represent can present it's states
issues. But, in spite of being member of Niti Ayog, the chief minister of Karnata never attended
the meeting. Even when Prime Minister requested Siddaramaiah to accompany him to China, so
that some investment can come to Karnataka, he didn't go. Even when Centre tries to give
something to State, he never accept it. So, the cooperative federalism, which is the need of the
hour, specially should come from Chief Minister, not from Prime Minister. That he never did it.
Every time he used to comment the central government. And never took any central assistance.
He is not even taking assistance from Central Ministers, who have come from Karnataka.
Q: As a law minister are you trying to exploit the proceedings of tribunals handling the
allocation of water to Karnataka?
Ans: There're two-three tribunals. One Upper Krishna Tribunal is there. One Kavery Water
Tribunal is there. Even now there's agitation over Mahadayi river, another tribunal formed. As
Law minister, I have two responsibilities. I have to safeguard the interest of the states. Second,
the working of the tribunals should be properly conducted. For that, what ever initiation is
required, that we're doing.
Q: Police has dropped the charges against your son. Was it a conspiracy against him at that
time?
Ans: I never spoke anything about the issue of my son. At no point of time I spoke even to a
small police officer. I said, law will take it's own course. As a law minister I should show to the
people that a man sitting on the top is not at all pressurizing. I never interfered in the court matter
and I never interfered in the police matter.
Q: When you first met Narendra Modi in your Career?
Ans: I met him long back, when he used to come for State Elections. As, I was the party
president, I used to be in regular touch with him. He had a good relation with Karnataka. Even,
when there was division in the party and we lost the assembly election, we made an assessment.
We found that if we won't united, then we can not give sufficient members to Parliament to form
a government at the Centre. I thought that if we are not united, then we cannot give sufficient
numbers.
Q: What was the reason Yeddurappa choosing you and then dumping in a way ?
Ans: Practically, as soon I became chief minister certain things, I took firm decision. Which he
didn't want. Initially, he thought that Sadananda Gowda will follow the words what he says. But,
as a chief minister I tried to see that I am the chief minister of 6 crore people of Karnataka and of
not any individual. I gave a very transparent administration. Some how he was not happy with
that administration. So, he requested the party leader to change the leadership in Karnataka. But,
I thought that Narendra Modi should be the prime minister of the country. And, it is possible
only if we can give sufficient numbers. For this we have to united. Then I went to Narendra
Modiji and requested that Yedyurappa should be taken back. But, he said that corruption charges
are against him. I said, corruption is a secondary issues in Karnataka. And, if there's unity then
we can win the election. So, I requested Narendra Modiji and central party leaders and took
initiation to take back Yeddyurappa. In this way we won 17 seats.
Q: And now how you will rate Narendra Modi as the Prime minister during this period?
Ans: You should not ask me to assess as I am a cabinet colleague. Because...to be very
frankly....
consult Personal Law Board, all political parties, various stakeholders who have certain relations
with those activities. They should be taken care. So these sensitive issues should be tackled
slowly. I made it very clear yesterday and even in our constitution under Article 44 it is
mentioned. And certain courts in Goa, uniform civil code is applicable now. There are some
judgments in Karnataka and Kerala High courts on this issues. So these are very sensitive issues.
So, I say that whatever we say it's really for the integrity of the country. It's the requirement. So,
we have to take initiatives. We have to go ahead. Now the Supreme Court has asked us to file an
affidavit within three weeks time. So, I should not discuss more about this outside, Because,
when matter is in court of law, we should be very careful and we should find out a way how we
should taken out. So I need to have a consultation with my cabinet colleagues, our Attorney
General, our Solicitor Generals and then only I can go ahead.
Q: As the Law ministry is bringing lots of reforms in the ministry. So what has been the
major contribution of your tenure so far?
Ans: This government is very particular to make the law simple and it should be easily
assessable to the public. You might have seen thousands of acts are there in our country. Some
acts are of 1885, 86 are also in existence. We have got so many reforms in the law. So we want
the obsolete laws, which are not actually in use should be removed. It was jurisdiction of the
Prime minister. He formed a small committee. And it find out 1,741 acts which are really not in
use. These acts were simply lying on the book of statue, creating confusion here and there and it
became very difficult to a individual to look into the statue of book and all. So we wanted to
remove such acts. So I already placed four bills and two among them have been passed. Two are
pending in Lok Sabyha and Rajya Sabha. Total 1,261 acts to be repealing. I think one more move
to be done. So that we can clean it.
Q: What are you going to do something to provide cheaper and fast justice to the common
men in the country?
Ans: That's well. Another important thing. We want to make computerized everything. Even
National Judicial Data Grade and E-court mission are coming. E-court mission gives everything.
Time consuming will be less. Even you can e-filing the cases. And you can see when it is
posted. Filing your statements, counters-everything can be done through this. We are giving
more importance to Lok Adalat. You will be surprised to know that about 44 lakhs cases which
were pending were solved through the Lok Adalat. We are bringing reforms in the motor vehicle
sector. We are bringing an amendment in the motor vehicle sector to meet the outside court
settlement for solution of cases like chalan, fine etc. An amendment already has been proposed
for Negotiable Instrument Act,. We are bringing Stringent Amendment to the Arbitration Act. If
the Act has come India should be hub of arbitration. Only Arbitration laws are simplified it. I
have already taken the cabinet approval. Where it took 10-12 years time for arbitration, now
within one year the arbitration to be disposed. If it is disposed within six months, the arbitrator
will be given some incentives. If we disposes after twelve months, then in every month certain
percentage of his fee will be cut down. So these are the steps. Now appointment of arbitrators--sometimes it seems that court interferes even after the arbitration award is given. It will be
challenge into the court. Now, we have put a very stringent provision so that there should not be
much interference by the court. We are establishing commercial courts, which will exclusively
deal commercial courts, district and high courts. So that all the commercial matters should be
disposed within a stipulated period. We have brought a litigation policy. Litigation policy is
already ready with us. We have to seek the government approval. The government is a major
litigant for each and every cases. Government is not only litigant against the individuals. They
are the litigants between themselves, between the departments, between the PSOs and
everywhere. So, we want to see that all those matters should not go to the court unless
specifically legal issues are there or a legal decision is required. For that reason we have brought
litigation policy. I want to take cabinet approval for that. So that in between there should not be
any case to go to the court. And you know very well environment and forest, road transport files
a case, power and environment department will not allow. Even river disputes, unnecessary
disputes are there between the departments between PWD and environment, Health department
V/S another department. So in future we are bringing litigation policy to reduce not less than
40% pending cases. And 40-50% cases will not move in the court in future.
Q: Time period?
Ans: See, first it should be in officer level. Then inter ministerial level. If it is not settled there,
then it will be taken up to to cabinet sector and it will be disposed. So, these are the various steps
we are taking. Very good reformative. You might have seen NJSE....
Q: So, what you have plan to dispose three crores of pending cases in various courts? Any
time frame?
Ans: Independence of judiciary can not be encroached by the executives. All the subordinate
courts are under the control of the high courts. Chief Justice of the High Court are the Head of
the judiciary who has to maintain right from the appointment of the judges to the disposal. and
As a central government we have to assist and have to give all the enabling requirements. We are
supposed to give them that. Rest of the things they have to do. We are not in a position to enter
in it. We can't say that you have to complete this proceeding within such and such date. So, there
are certain laws just like Amendment of Arbitration. Supreme Court will guide the High Courts
and others. So, these are the things we need to talk. For that we are giving more importance to
Lok Adalats, where settlement is outside the court. So, there we can enter. We can talk too. Even
the judges are supporting us. Another area we are doing is e-court mission. With the help of legal
aid, poor people can dispose the cases early. These are the various steps we are taking now.
Q: Judiciary says that the Center and that state governments are not providing adequate
funds, infrastructure, manpower etc.?
Ans: I will tell you one thing...To be very frankly, for example court building is required. Now,
nearly 14,500 courts are there across the country. At present we have got about 15 thousand
buildings and one and half thousand buildings are under construction. There is no scarcity. Of
course, there are preceding officers' post is vacant. 392 High court judges to be appointed
immediately.
Q: In 24 High courts?
Ans: Yes in 24 High Courts. Now there is no earlier collegium. NJSE has not come into
existence. A stalemate is there.
Q: So, what is the future of this issue?
Ans: I think arguments and everything have been heard. NJSE will be disposed of. Judgment will
come out. I hope that within a week it may come out. Because again from next week ten day
holiday for courts. Before that it will come out.
Q: Suppose, to come out in September don't you think taking unnecessary delay?
Ans: We can't dictate the court to give the judgment, they are responsible persons. So, judges
know very well it should be disposed early. Because of it only so many cases are pending. So I
don't want to make any comment.
Q: Hopeful that it will appear?
Ans: Definitely. Because there is no opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajyasabha. All the MPs
including the persons who are dealing with the matter are in favor of this. It's a constitution right.
Not only in our country, in various countries appointment of judges is not appointed by only
judges. It's a very transparent method. See, in NJSE we have never denied the rights of the
judiciary. Out of six members, three members one is the Chief justice and two other senior
judges are the part. And two eminent personalities will be selected by the Prime minister, the
Opposition leader and the Chief Justice. Only one Law minister executive will be there. So
independent of judiciary is there.
Q: You said, appointment of Judges is not an integral part of Judicial Independence, How
will you operate this?
Ans: To be frank with you, the matter is pending before the Court till the Judgement comes.
Even though I have so many opinions in my mind, when the matter is with the Court we should
restrict ourselves otherwise it will amount to subjudice, for that reason I am not able to tell to
you.
Q: For a moment, If you lose the case in the Supreme Court. What is the start down?
Ans: I am an optimistic Sir, I am not thinking in that direction at all. We hope that when it is
passed unanimously by the Parliament and when it is in accordance with the Constitutional
provisions and other things. According to me, because it is under Judicial scrutiny they are the
right persons and I hope we would get a positive result.
Q: Are you going to issue some guidelines on certain amendments to restrict the distinction
power of Judges in granting the bail reforms?
Ans: Really we need to have new bail act and there should be transparency. I have received
many letters above 650 from the Tihar Jail. Women convicts who are under trail have written
letters to me stating that they have been charged in cases when they are pregnant and they have
to give birth to the kids in the prison itself. In most of the cases that they have been granted bail
but they do not have any person from outside to give security or bonds for that. So there is a very
big confusion in the minds of the people also. Rich people are able to take their cases to the
higher courts...whereas the poor person who is involved in the criminal cases they think they
cannot go to the higher courts when they lose the case in the lower court. It is only because of
their inability to make payment to the lawyers who take up their cases. This happens more in
Criminal cases which should not happen. We should give more importance to the Article 14 and
21 of the Constitution. I have already mentioned this issues and referred to one of the National
Law School where research is going on. They have to give the report and I have to get it. I want
to see that the bail act is the need of the hour. In a big country like India where 125 crores of
population is there we should see that justice is done to each and every person.
Q: What is your idea on the live telecast of the court proceedings?
Ans: Unfortunately recently in Chennai some cases have telecast the proceedings of certain
cases live. There was lots of trouble. But we have not taken any decision on the live telecast of
the court proceedings as of now. It is very hectic burden to the government to give live telecast
of the court proceedings. Security would be a major problem for the exchequer while bringing
him to the court.
We are thinking of video conferencing of the court proceedings with regard to the
transparency. Every person should feel that there should be transparency in the Judiciary for
this every one should be in a position to see this. It will take some time to make this possible
because reforms in legal department has started only recently. We are going step by step.
Q. People say that some Judges make extra remarks while giving Judgements and what do
you say?
Ans: No comments.
Q: Are you going to change the names of some Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata courts in due
course?
Ans: Yes, it is before us. Already Mumbai and Chennai courts that matter has come. Even
Kolkata also we received but due to some changes to be made it was sent back. I am intending to
bring an enactment so for each and every High Court it need not be done. But a common law will
be there. Subsequently under that Law by notification itself we can change the name. We are
working on it and with in a short span of time it would be done.
Q: One more serious problem in Judiciary is that lawyers go on strike for a longer
period...in spite of the SC advice this doesn't happen, any plan or amendment?
Ans: As you rightly said, lawyers, doctors these type or people should not go on strike. On
certain occasions they say that when their requirements are not positively responded there is no
other alternative. Inspite of that there need to be some amendment in the advocate act. Some
independent body should be there so that the advocates who are misbehaving and who are acting
against the justice and who are harming the interest of the public at large those people should be
dealt. For this there should be an amendment to the advocate act.
Q: At the same time we should look into genuine issues or problems of the advocates?
Ans: Certainly we are working on it. Bar Council of India is the authority, it is not the ministry
of law and justice. Bar Council is looking after all this.. even the education fields Law colleges
are also being supervised. Recently the Central government took some law schools which are
autonomous rest are all taken by the bar council.
Q: So is there any chance of Supreme Court bench at Bengaluru in future?
Ans: At present, there are several proposals. They want it in Trivendrum, Bengaluru and some
even say they want in North-East. This is a matter which needs some more time frame then only
we can go a head with it.
Q: Last interesting question, some people say that your ministry is run by the remote
of Arun Jaitley defacto law minister?
Ans: So many people say so many things. I dont give any importance because I am running the
show I know very well. When I became the Chief Minister, some of them said I would be in the
hands of Yedurappa, who supported me to be the CM. But after sometime everybody came to
know that it is not the case. Similarly so many people say so many things, but I have got an
independent vision, independent caliber to handle the port folio. So I am doing the best of my
ability. Of course, ..I am taking opinions from Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and other
various legal experts. It is my duty. I never say that I know each and every thing....even I interact
with secretary and other persons for simple issues also. Minister can succeed only when he takes
feed back from various corners and comes to a conclusion after going into the details of every
issue. If I don't take advice from all the experts that means I will fail in my duty
That means you are in complete command of your duty. Best of Luck.
Thank you.
Q: How was the interview?
Ans: It is a fantastic interview. Since last twenty five years, I might have faced not less than
hundred; more than hundred interviews. But this was to the subject, to the point. Only in
relations to the present existing situations. You never cross examined me, rather than you
examined me. That means only the realities have been brought out by you. Its a wonderful
Interview. Really I congratulate you.