Balance among state organs must not be disrupted: Prez

Praising judiciary for assuming a role beyond only settling disputes in its quest to deliver justice to all, President Pranab Mukherjee today cautioned that the assumption of wider role by it should not disrupt the fine balance among legislature, executive and judiciary.

He also expressed concern over huge backlog of court cases and sought judiciary to effect a reform to sustain common man's faith in it.

Pointing out that the efficacy of the judicial system depends on its capacity to deliver justice to all irrespective of their social or economic standing in the society, the President said "in our country, the judiciary has risen to this call departing from its traditional role of only settling disputes."

"The assumption of this wider role has at times courted opposition for its deviation from the principles of the separation of powers. Yet, some of the positive contributions that such activism have spawned are unquestionable.

"But, I would need to add a cautionary note here - the fine balance existing in every democracy with each of the three organs of the state, the legislature, executive and judiciary, playing their designated roles should not be disrupted," said the President.

Addressing an international seminar here on 'Recent Trends in Judicial Reforms: A Global Perspective,' the President said that the three organs should not encroach upon each others' domains and play the roles that the constitution has not assigned to them.