Independence of the Supreme Court

Judicial independence is a cornerstone of the Indian constitutional system. The Supreme Court is insulated from political pressures through various safeguards enshrined in Article 124, which include secure tenure, fixed salaries, and a transparent appointment process. These provisions ensure that judges can render decisions based solely on legal principles without fear of reprisal. The independence of the Court has been reaffirmed in numerous landmark judgments, where the judiciary has demonstrated its ability to check the excesses of the executive and legislature.

Factual aspects include the constitutional mandate that judges serve until the age of 65, as well as the procedural safeguards that prevent arbitrary removal. In recent public debates, the issue of judicial independence has been discussed extensively in the context of perceived attempts to influence judicial decisions, yet the robust constitutional framework continues to uphold the impartiality of the Court.

Furthermore, the global recognition of India’s judiciary as a model of independent jurisprudence reinforces the importance of these constitutional protections.