What is meant by an Independent Judiciary?

Independence of judiciary means the following things:

• The other organs of the government like the executive and legislature must not restrain the functioning of the judiciary in such a way that it is unable to do justice.
• The other organs of the government should not interfere with the decision of the judiciary.
• Judges must be able to perform their functions without fear or favour.

Independence of the judiciary does not imply arbitrariness or absence of accountability. Judiciary is a part of the democratic political structure of the country. It is therefore accountable to the Constitution, to the democratic traditions and to the people of the country.

Further Reading :

• Indian Judiciary
• Separation of Powers in the Indian Constitution