Taking exception to a host of court rulings, including the Supreme Court stay on the implementation of quotas in higher education institutions, and court orders against party ministers in Kerala, the CPI(M) today lashed out at the growing trend of “judicial intervention” with party general secretary Prakash Karat reiterating the demand of setting up of a National Judicial Commission to bring in accountability and reforms.

Karat attacked the higher courts for “intervening” in favour of the private sector and employers, overturning verdicts favouring the workers, and “curtailing democratic rights and collective action”.

His comments came against the backdrop of initiation of contempt proceedings against senior CPI(M) minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty by the Kerala High Court for his “anti-judiciary remarks” and sentencing of another minister A K Balan by a court for obstructing train services during a party agitation.

The party is also peeved at the Supreme Court stay on a central law providing for reservation for backward classes in higher educational institutions and the Calcutta High Court’s intervention in the Nandigram issue by ordering a CBI probe into the police firing.

“There should be judicial accountability and reforms in the judiciary. A National Judicial Commission which comprises not just serving judges must be constituted for appointment and related issues,” Karat told reporters after the party’s three-day Central Committee meeting here.