NEWS

New Delhi:  It is incumbent upon judges to exercise utmost discretion in utterances inside courtrooms, President Ram Nath Kovind said here on Saturday. Addressing the valedictory function of the Constitution Day programme organised by the Supreme Court, Kovind said that in Indian tradition, judges are imagined as a model of rectitude and detachment more akin to ‘sthitpragya’ (a person of steady wisdom).

“We have a rich history of legions of such judges known for their utterances full of sagacity and conduct beyond reproach, which have become hallmarks for the future generations," he said. The President said he was happy to note that the Indian judiciary has been adhering to those highest standards.

Alleging that the government is riding roughshod over the Constitution in governance and law-making, opposition parties on Friday boycotted the “Constitution Day” function in the Central Hall of Parliament which was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi among others.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left parties, RJD, NCP, Shiv Sena, SP and DMK among others stayed away from the function after Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to them on Thursday evening with the plan for boycott. The issue was discussed in the Parliament strategy group meeting of Congress that was chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi.

New Delhi: Heavy rains through Friday and overnight exposed the poor drainage in Chennai as residents of several low-lying areas had to be rescued on boats manoeuvred by NDRF personnel who had to wade through in chest-deep water.

Some localities such as Guduvancherry and Mannivakkam were in knee-deep water overnight. The city had barely recovered from a low-pressure weather system that brought heavy rains between November 18 and 20. With many localities still reeling from disruption, the fresh spell brought a new set of problems for residents.

CJI NV Ramana’s speech at Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court registry on Friday.

The framers of the Constitution made accountability an integral element with respect to the legislature and executive. However, they consciously decided to keep the judiciary on a different pedestal. They trusted the competence of the men and women who would adorn the Bench, in upholding the Constitution. Looking back, I can proudly claim that, as an institution, the judiciary has lived up to the faith reposed in it by the Constituent Assembly.

The general perception is that securing justice is the responsibility of the judiciary alone. This is not correct. To the contrary, it is all the three organs of the state which are responsible for upholding this commitment to secure justice… While the judiciary is the “guardian of the Constitution”, its role and scope of action is ultimately limited by the very nature of the judicial process… Any deviation by the legislature or executive from the path prescribed by the Constitution will only lead to additional burden on the judiciary.