Effect Of Amendment Procedure Of Constitution On Independence Of Judiciary
This study explores the vital role that an impartial judiciary plays in
constitutional democracies and how important it is to maintaining peace,
prosperity, and the preservation of human rights. The study, which focuses on
the Indian legal system, looks at the conventions, laws, treaties, and
constitutional protections that support the judiciary's independence. It
underlines how important it is to have a supporting atmosphere established by
the public and all branches of government in order to maintain judicial
independence in the face of changing social, political, and economic
conditions.
The article places a lot of emphasis on judicial instruments in the Indian setting,
namely judicial activism and judicial review. It draws attention to the judiciary's
power to examine laws or executive orders that violate fundamental rights and
to the crucial role that judicial activism plays in interpreting and shaping the
Indian Constitution.
Methodology
A constitutional democracy and a free society necessitate an independent
judiciary. It guarantees a society's prosperity and stability in addition to the
application of the law and the achievement of human rights.3. Although the
constitution typically guarantees the independence of the court, other
appropriate norms and practices, legislation, and treaties may also serve this
purpose.
In the end, the entirety of a supportive environment established and
supported by every one of the state organs, including the judiciary and the
public opinion, determines the independence of the court. The judiciary's
independence must also be continuously protected from unforeseen
circumstances and shifting social, political, and economic environments since it
is too delicate to be left unprotected.
India has enacted a liberal constitution in the style of the Euro-American
tradition with the goal of creating a society that is free and democratic.
Additionally, the stability and prosperity of society are its goals. Its creators
thought that by guaranteeing fundamental rights and establishing an
independent court to uphold and defend those rights, such a society might beestablished. As a result, the Indian Constitution's founders approached these
two issues with the same degree of idealism.
Definition of Independence of Judiciary
Judicial independence refers to the capacity of judges and court officials to
carry out their functions without interference or oversight from other parties,
whether they public or private. The phrase is also used normatively to describe
the level of independence that judges and courts should have.
The State will ensure the independence of the judiciary, and it will be codified
in the nation's Constitution or other legal documents. All governmental and
non-governmental organizations have an obligation to uphold and respect the
judiciary's independence.
In order to guarantee that the Constitution's provisions are properly applied,
the court has interpreted it.
Judicial Review: The judiciary's ability to use judicial review is one of its most
significant tools for influencing and interpreting the Indian Constitution.
Any statute or executive action that the judiciary determines to be in
contravention of the Constitution's provisions may be reviewed by the court.
This authority is used by the judiciary to declare a statute or executive action
unconstitutional through the process of judicial review.
The Indian Constitution was shaped in large part because to this judicial review
authority, which also helps to guarantee that the Constitution's provisions are
carried out as intended.
Judicial Activism: Through its activism, the Indian court has played a significant
role in influencing the Constitution.
In order to guarantee both the successful implementation of the Constitution's
provisions and the protection of people' rights and freedoms, the judiciary has
taken the initiative in interpreting the document.
Judicial Overreach: The Supreme Court has frequently faced accusations that
its rulings amount to judicial legislation. This occurs when they take on the
authority of the legislative under the pretense of establishing standards and
principles. For example, the Supreme Court has limited the legislature's ability
to enact and alter legislation by establishing the fundamental structure
doctrine. The judiciary has also been charged with encroaching on other
branches' authority through the collegiums system.
The judiciary's primary role
is to interpret the law; it is not as important to pick judges carefully.Case in which amendment effect Judicial Independence
In the landmark judgement case which is also known as The Fourth Judge Case
is the moniker given to this historic ruling. It began with a series of petitions
contesting the constitutionality of the National Judicial Appointments
Commission Act of 2014 (NJAC Act) and the Constitution (Ninety-Ninth
Amendment) Act of 2014 (99th Amendment).
These Acts aimed to establish
the National Judicial Appointments Committee (NJAC) in place of the current
collegium system for appointments to the upper courts.
The NJAC suggested giving the executive branch more authority to nominate
judges. This was purportedly done to provide accountability and openness to
the selecting process. The 99th Amendment and the NJAC Act were declared
unconstitutional by a majority of 4:1 after the Court determined that the NJAC
violated the principles of the separation of powers and judiciary independence
that were integral to the fundamental framework of the Constitution.
The
Constitution Bench, consisting of five judges, made this decision.
Justice Lokur raised concerns about the NJAC's lack of openness and
accountability, noting that both the NJAC Act and the 99th Amendment left
unresolved questions about the privacy of those applying to be appointed as
judges. He came to the conclusion that the NJAC Act and the 99th Amendment,
which were intended to provide openness to the previously closed-door
collegium system, failed to strike a compromise between the candidates' right
to privacy and the public's right to know. By doing this, he recognized that
there is an implied basic right to privacy that will be subject to safeguards.
The case of P Kannadasan v State of Tamil Nadu established that the
Constitution confers the authority on Constitutional Courts to nullify laws
passed by Parliament and state legislatures that exceed constitutional bounds.
The legislature cannot pass a statute saying that the court's ruling will not be
implemented or that it will be overturned in the event that a court rules that
an act passed by the legislature is invalidated due to parliamentary
incompetence. However, this does not preclude the legislature, which
possesses the authority to pass legislation, from doing so. In a similar vein, the
legislature has the option to change the judgment's foundation. The new or
revised statute may be contested on other grounds, but not for the purpose of
attempting to overturn or evade the court's ruling.
This is the meaning of the
"checks and balances" a system of government with the division of powers has.Although the rigorous division of powers that was envisioned in the traditional
sense is no longer feasible, the reasoning underlying this theory is still sound.
This doctrine's reasoning is based on polarity rather than rigid categorization,
which means that in order to prevent absolutism, the center of power must be
distributed. Therefore, it would be more accurate to describe the theory as a
doctrine of checks and balances.
Chandrachud J. made the following observation on Indira Nehru Gandhi's case
"No Constitution may endure absent an intentional adherence to its fine checks
and balances." In the same way that courts shouldn't become involved in issues
that are entangled in politics, Parliament must respect the jurisdiction of the
courts. "Has in it the principle, inmate in the prudence of self-preservation;
that flexibility is the better part of valour" is the concept of restraint that
underpins the division of powers.
What is Amendment
An amendment is a modification or addition to the text of a constitution.
Constitutional amendments are typically designed to reflect changes in society,
correct deficiencies in the original document, or address new issues that may
have arisen since the constitution was first adopted.
The process of amending a constitution varies from country to country but
often involves a deliberate and formal procedure. This procedure is usually
more rigorous than the ordinary legislative process to emphasize the
significance of constitutional changes. It may include requirements such as
approval by a supermajority in the legislature or a special constitutional
convention, and sometimes ratification by the public through a referendum.
Amendments can cover a wide range of issues, including civil rights, the
structure of government, the distribution of powers, and other fundamental
aspects of a legal system. The ability to amend a constitution is seen as a way
to ensure that the legal framework of a society remains relevant and adaptable
to changing circumstances over time.
Procedure of Amendment
The ability of the parliament to alter the constitution and its processes is
covered in Article 368 of Part XX of the Constitution.
It says that any provision in the Constitution may be added to, changed, or
repealed by the Parliament by following the procedures established for thatpurpose.Nevertheless, certain clauses that make up the "basic structure" of the
Constitution are unamendable by the Parliament. The Supreme Court made
this decision in the Sadananda Bharati case in 1973.
Minority Amendment in Simple Form
A simple majority, or more than half of the members present who vote on the
amendment, is required to change several provisions of the Constitution. This
category includes, among other things, revisions pertaining to the admittance
of a new state under Schedule IV and Article 11.
Special Amendment by Majority
A special majority (66%) of at least two-thirds of the members present and
voting in that House may amend certain articles of the Constitution. Examples
of situations in which the Special Majority Amendment is used approving
constitutional amendments without compromising the Indian Constitution's
fundamental framework.
Removal of Judges from High Court or Supreme Court National Emergency.
Historic Amendments
The First Amendment Act of 1951, amended the freedom of speech and
expression and added the Ninth Schedule to protect certain laws from judicial
review.
The Seventh Amendment Act of 1956, reorganized the states of India on
linguistic lines.
The Ninth Amendment Act of 1960, recognized the right to property as a
fundamental right.
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment Act of 1971, abolished the privy purse and
abolished the privy council as a court of appeal for the princely states.
The Thirty-Ninth Amendment Act of 1975, recognized Sikkim as a state of India.
The Forty-Second Amendment Act of 1976, amended several provisions of the
Constitution, including the Preamble, and added the words “secular” and
“socialist” to it.
The Seventy-Third Amendment Act of 1992, recognized the rights of the
scheduled castes and tribes to participate in local self-governance.Challenges faced by the Judiciary
Lack of Transparency: The legal system is exempt from the provisions of the
Right to Information Act. Important aspects of the Indian legal system's
operation, such the system's accountability and fairness, are not well known to
the country's population. It's also imperative that judges be appointed
transparently. The freedom of speech and expression, which includes the right
to information, is guaranteed by the Constitution. Nonetheless, this
fundamental entitlement is violated by the existing system.
Security Concerns: Judges and court officials may face security threats,
particularly in cases involving organized crime, political controversies, or
sensitive issues. Ensuring the safety of the judiciary is a critical concern.
Adaptation to Changing Laws and Society: The law is dynamic, and judiciaries
must adapt to changes in legislation and societal norms. Keeping the legal
system updated and responsive to evolving challenges requires ongoing
education and training for judges.
Conclusion
The essay concludes by highlighting the critical role that an impartial court
plays in maintaining the fundamental values of a constitutional democracy and
promoting a free society. It highlights that while judicial independence may be
guaranteed only by the constitution, public opinion and state institutions must
foster a conducive atmosphere in order for judicial independence to continue.
Because of its fragile character, judicial independence needs constant defense
against unanticipated events and shifting social, political, and economic
landscapes.
India hopes to create a democratic and free society that promotes stability and
prosperity, drawing inspiration from the liberal constitution of the Euro-
American past. The protection of basic rights and the creation of an impartial
court dedicated to preserving and protecting those rights were how the
founding fathers intended to accomplish this.
The definition of judicial independence emphasizes the court's ability to
operate free from outside intervention. It is emphasized that all organizations,
both governmental and non-governmental, have an obligation to preserve andrespect the independence of the judiciary, which must be guaranteed by the
state.
The book examines important instruments that the Indian judiciary uses, such
judicial activism and judicial review, which are crucial for understanding and
influencing the Constitution. It also addresses the issue of judicial overreach,
which has given rise to claims that the court is infringing on legislative power.
The judiciary's role in preserving its independence is best shown by the historic
case known as The Fourth Judge Case, which involved the challenge to the
NJAC Act and the 99th Amendment. The majority ruling, which ruled these
actions unlawful, emphasizes how crucial it is to preserve the judicial
independence and division of powers, which are essential components of the
constitutional order.
The judiciary faces a number of difficulties, such as a lack of openness, security
issues, and the requirement to change with the times in order to comply with
evolving legal and social standards. These difficulties serve as a reminder of the
continuous work needed to preserve the integrity and efficacy of the legal
system.
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