AMN
Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph has declined to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dinner for judges on Saturday night.
The denial is on the ground that the event and the ongoing judges conference clashed with Good Friday and Easter weekend.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, he has explained his stand and also questioned holding such meetings on holy days.
He said in his letter, that it was a customary for him to be part of the religious and other ceremonies with the parents, elders and other family members during the holy weekend. Further in the letter, Justice Joseph urged that while scheduling events equal importance and respect should be shown to the sacred days of all religions which are also declared as National holidays.
Justice Joseph said he only wanted to raise the serious concern about secularism in India.
Justice Joseph had earlier raised objections with the Chief Justice of India H L Dattu over holding of a three-day long judges conference during holy weekend for Christians.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Dattu refused to react to objection by Justice Kurien Joseph to hold judges’ conference on holy days.