Judges' Phones Tapped, Alleges Arvind Kejriwal. Wrong, Retorts Government

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal's stunning allegation at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that judges' phones are being tapped, was emphatically denied by the government at the same platform on Monday.

The Delhi Chief Minister, alleging government interference in judges' appointments, said: "I overheard judges telling each other that they should not talk on phones because they could be tapped...I don't know whether it is true or not but there is a widespread fear. If it is true that phones are tapped then judges can be influenced."

He was speaking at the Golden jubilee celebration of the Delhi High Court, where Chief Justice TS Thakur was also present.

A retort came promptly from Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said: "I have been Communication Minister for two years and I completely deny with all authority that phones of judges have been tapped."

Mr Prasad also asserted that the commitment of his government to the independence of the judiciary is "fundamental, impeachable and uncompromising."

On Friday, the government was given an acerbic warning by the Supreme Court, which said delays in the appointment of judges threatened to "decimate" the judiciary. The court demanded to know why the government had not acted on names sent by a collegium of judges.

When the government said there were "inconsistencies" in the recommendations, the court said the names should be sent back and remarked, "Don't make this about ego."

Mr Kejriwal appeared to reference the friction between the government and the judiciary when he said today that he had "read that the Supreme Court collegium has sent names for judges months ago but the centre not approved them."

This leads to rumours and they are not good, he said. "Rumours say some ministers wanted some judges to be appointed and the government doesn't approve of some names. Executive interference in appointments affects independence of the judiciary and it is not good for the country," he said.

Former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee disapproved of Mr Kejriwal's comments. " Kejiriwal shouldn't  have spoken like this. But this is how he speaks....freedom of expression," he told NDTV.