Supreme Court judge for meaningful debates in legislatures

Patna: Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Saturday said there should be meaningful debates on issues of public importance in Parliament and state legislatures instead of frequent clashes and walkouts by elected representatives.Delivering the first Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture on “Constitutionalism beyond rights: Why structure matters” at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), she said legislative bodies exist for healthy debate and deliberation aimed at the welfare of the people.Nagarathna observed states are coordinate units of the Constitution and not subordinate to the Centre. She said disputes between the Centre and states should be resolved amicably in the spirit of federalism.To safeguard the integrity of the democratic process, she remarked, “If those who conduct elections are dependent on those who contest them, the neutrality of the process cannot be assured.”She added the Constitution derives strength not only from the rights it guarantees but also from robust institutions.Supreme Court judge Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said, “Moral courage is central to the constitutional ethos and constitutionalism rests on the rule of law, not merely rule by law.”Patna high court chief justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo said courts and the Bar share responsibility for protecting the constitutional framework. Advocate general P K Shahi said the govt would notify a monthly stipend of Rs 5000 for young lawyers enrolled with the Bihar State Bar Council after Jan 1, 2024.