Recently the Rajya Sabha MP and former law minister Kapil Sibal accusing central government of attempting to "capture" the judiciary and present union law Minister Kiren Rijiju's critical comment against the judiciary and the collegium system is a matter of grave concern. The nation's founders created the judiciary as an independent, co-equal branch of government to ensure it is protected from outside political influences. The judiciary is the last citadel of freedom. The Constitution is supreme as the power of judicial review resides with the court. The appointments to the higher judiciary should not be handed over to the government. Instead of upholding and strengthening judicial independence, impartiality and efficiency, some governments and politicians interfere with the judiciary. An independent judiciary is necessary for a free society. Over the years, the executive and the legislature have become existential threats to judicial independence. The independence of judiciary is the pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of the Constitution of India and for the realization of a democratic society based on the rule of law.
