Jaipur, Jul 14: Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju on Saturday expressed reservation over the recent Supreme Court verdict, barring convicted lawmakers from contesting polls, saying it should be reviewed as "judiciary cannot make laws".
"I have some reservations over this judgement. It should be reviewed. Making laws is the work of legislature. Judiciary can enforce laws but cannot make a law. Here I feel that the judiciary did the work of legislature," Katju told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The retired judge of the apex court said that there is separation of powers of organs (judiciary, legislative and executive) in the Constitution and no organ should interfere in others' work.
Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that elected representative convicted of a crime cannot continue in office, even if they appeal to a higher court.
The court said that conviction will lead to instant disqualification of the lawmakers from the date of conviction.
The court struck down Section 8 (4) of the Representation of the People's Act 1951 which protects convicted lawmakers against disqualification on ground of pendency of appeal against their conviction in higher court.
Earlier, speaking at a seminar, Katju said media should play a constructive role and guide people in the "current painful phase", where people are facing problems of inflation and unemployment.
It was a "bitter truth" that despite availability of ample opportunities for development and growth, 80 per cent of population in the country is poor, he said.
"The country today is passing through a painful period. Ample opportunities for growth are there but still 80 per cent people are poor. Poverty is a bad thing and media industry, which deals in the area of ideas and not commodities, should play its role to guide people," Katju said.
The seminar was organised by All India Small and Medium Newspapers' Federation in Jaipur.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Education Minister B K Sharma said that the media should play constructive role.
"Media should play a constructive role and should guide the society. Some elements in the industry also commit illegal acts like blackmailing and this should be stopped," he said.
