Judicial independence is not limited to freedom from political or institutional pressure or popular opinion. Constitutional conviction is the foundation of a judicial opinion; it cannot be diluted or negotiated for the sake of consensus. The judge added that judicial independence is particularly important in cases of judicial review where legislation may have to be set aside or executive action restrained. Justice Nagarathna’s comments open up the larger issue of the attitude to dissent by courts, particularly the lower courts. The enlightened attitude of the Supreme Court towards dissent is not usually reflected in the actions of the lower courts.

Source: The Telegraph March 11, 2026 02:49 UTC