Nishikant Dubey, the outspoken, if a trifle brash, BJP MP, launched a few days ago an intemperate attack against the Supreme Court and held it responsible for the communal flare-up in the wake of the new Waqf law passed by the Parliament. A judicial review of legislation or amendments thereto is the hallmark of any democracy and is reassuring to those feeling persecuted, especially the minorities. Far from resenting such review the ruling dispensation must welcome it and co-opt the Apex court in winning the confidence of the people, especially the minorities.

The Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, would not have seen the light of day but for the Supreme Court casting its imprimatur on the Hindu faith that he was indeed born there. The 1992 destruction of the Babri Masjid, which stood on Lord Ram’s birthplace, alienated a large section of the Muslims, and their feeling of hurt continued to simmer till the Apex court settled the issue in favour of the Hindus in 2019. The BJP government did well not to resolve the dispute through legislation, instead, it chose to bide time for a favourable court ruling. The short point is anything shoved down the throats of opposition, albeit through proper legislation, rankles and leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the opponents. But when the same thing is said by the Apex court, the opposition almost vaporises.

The Narendra Modi government banned triple talaq, which was hailed by a large section of Muslim women often at the receiving end of such a peremptory practice that has no place in a civilised society. Many of the Islamic nations have legally banned such barbarity against Muslim women. Nevertheless, a........

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