Laying down the Law

Fingers are already being pointed at Union Law Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj over the embarrassment caused to the Prime Minister recently on the issue of elevation of three high court chief justices to the Supreme Court. Senior UPA functionaries say it was on the advice of Bhardwaj that the Prime Minister8217;s Office sent the three names back to the Supreme Court collegium. At the same time, the news was leaked to convey the impression that the PMO had acted on its own. And so, the issue has turned into an Executive versus Judiciary affair. After the SC collegium sent the file containing the recommendations back to the Government without making any changes, the Law Minister is saying he will arbitrate and have the issue resolved.