Separation of Powers in India – Vocabulary Review

Constitutional Basis

  • Article\,13: Judicial review of laws
  • Article\,50: Directs separation of judiciary – executive
  • Articles\,121\;\&\;211: Bar debate on judges’ conduct in legislatures
  • Articles\,122\;\&\;212: Shield legislative proceedings from courts
  • Articles\,53,154: Executive power with President/Governor
  • Article\,361: Immunity for President/Governor acts

Core Objectives

  • Prevent power concentration; ensure checks & balances
  • Protect citizens’ rights; curb arbitrary laws
  • Guarantee judicial independence & rule of law
  • Enable legislative oversight of executive
  • Promote efficient, corruption-free administration

Indian Model – Key Features

  • Flexible, not rigid; “broad separation” (Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain 1975)
  • Functional interdependence & mutual respect among organs
  • Cross-functional duties accepted for practical governance

Functional Overlap (Essentials)

  • Legislature ↔ Judiciary
    • Impeachment/removal powers vs. judicial law-making (PILs, Article\,142 directives)
  • Executive ↔ Legislature
    • Executive in Parliament; delegated legislation; ordinances (Art\,123,213)
  • Executive ↔ Judiciary
    • Executive pardons, quasi-judicial tribunals vs. SC writs (Art\,32) & “complete justice” (Art\,142)

Checks & Balances (Snapshot)

  • Judiciary on Legislature: Basic-structure, due-process, striking unconstitutional laws (Kesavananda Bharti, Lily Thomas)
  • Judiciary on Executive: Review of President’s Rule (Rameshwar Prasad); monitoring committees; Pegasus probe
  • Legislature on Executive: Question Hour, committees, budget control, no-confidence vote
  • Legislature on Judiciary: Impeachment; tribunal creation (Art\,323A\,/\,B)
  • Executive on Judiciary: Judge appointments; service conditions; prosecution sanction
  • Executive on Legislature: Veto, ordinance, session summoning/dissolution

Landmark Judgements

  • Re Delhi Laws Act – constitutional limits on delegated powers
  • Kesavananda Bharti 1973 – SOP part of basic structure
  • Minerva Mills 1980 – balance of FR & DPSP
  • NJAC Case 2015 – upheld judicial primacy in appointments
  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan 2020 – speaker’s disqualification subject to court review

Recent Concerns & Challenges

  • Judicial overreach (e.g., NJAC strike-down, COVID policy orders)
  • Executive delays in judge appointments; ordinance “raj”
  • Tribunalisation: executive-heavy bodies, high pendency
  • Legislative erosion: fewer sitting days, heavy delegated legislation

Committees/Reports to Strengthen SOP

  • Sarkaria Commission 1983
  • NCRWC 2002
  • 2nd ARC 2005\text{–}09
  • Punchhi Commission 2010

Significance Today

  • Sustains democratic stability & public trust
  • Upholds fundamental rights via judicial review
  • Clarifies responsibilities, improving governance efficiency

Quick Facts

  • Vacant Higher-Court posts >400 (2023)
  • Average Union ordinances \approx6 per year (last decade)
  • 17^{th} Lok Sabha: record-low sitting days

Rapid Revision – Key Points

  • SOP in India = flexible, functionally separated, mutually checking
  • Judiciary: guardian of Constitution; basic-structure unalterable
  • Executive: accountable to Parliament; ordinances valid \le6 months unless ratified
  • Legislature: can impeach judges, control executive finances, but cannot debate judicial conduct
  • Balanced functioning requires transparency, timely appointments, limited ordinances, strong committees