Justice V R Krishna Iyer said one of his wishes is to start a legal aid centre where the poor can approach for legal assistance.
Speaking to reporters during ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club in wake of his 98th birthday, Krishna Iyer said he supported Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi because of his good policies. According to Krishna Iyer, the time has come for simplifying and reforming the law.
“Now people have to wait their entire lifetime for getting a verdict in a case. The time has come for thinking about reforming the law. Legal aid should be provided for the poor in the country. One of my wishes is to start a centre which would provide legal aid to the poor,” he said.
About his support to Modi, he said he admires Modi’s certain policies like encouraging solar power. He said he doesn’t know whether Modi will be the Prime Minister or not and whether he would win the election.
“If Modi does good things, I will appreciate him and if he does anything wrong, I will criticise him. I don’t know Modi personally and have just heard of his policies. In Gujarat, Modi has promoted solar power plan more than nuclear power. I had written a letter to Prime Minister to avoid nuclear power and promote solar power. I like the ‘Solar ever, nuclear never’ policy,” he said.
On the famous Indira Gandhi case, he said: “On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court held then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of corrupt electoral practices and declared her election to the Lok Sabha void. The case came up at the Supreme Court where I was the Vacation Judge then.
One of her colleagues telephoned me seeking an interview. But I refused and said we would hear about it at the court. After hearing from both the parties, I prepared the judgement by midnight and declared the verdict the very next day (June 24). A copy of it was given to the public,” he said.
Justice Iyer had granted a “conditional stay” of the High Court decision. He barred Indira Gandhi from participating in debates or voting in Parliament and referred the matter to a larger Bench of the Court.