Judicial activism shouldn't hit balance of power: Prez

 Judiciary brought justice closer to common man but judicial activism should not lead to wrecking the balance between three organs of the state, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday.

Addressing the Fourth Retreat of Supreme Court judges in Bhopal, he reminded that the exercise of powers by the legislature and executive is subject to judicial review but the “only check possible” in the exercise of powers by the judiciary is “self-imposed discipline and self-restraint”.

Mukherjee said equilibrium in the exercise of authority must be maintained at all times and ensure that activism by judges should not end up in dilution of separation of powers.

The president acknowledged that judiciary has enlarged the scope of justice in the country and the Supreme Court through judicial innovation and activism has expanded the common law principle of “locus standi” for enforcing fundamental rights.