Independence of judiciary must for rule of law

BHUBANESWAR: Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik, Judge of Supreme Court, on Friday said independence of judiciary is absolutely necessary for prevalence of rule of law. There will be great danger to life and liberty of citizens in a democratic set-up if judicial powers come into the hands of executive, he said. Delivering the 7th Gora Chand Pattnaik Memorial Lecture here, Justice Patnaik dealt at length about the topic “Separation and Division of Powers under the Constitution.” The lecture was organised by Gora Chand Patnaik Memorial Trust.Justice Patnaik reminisced his stint as a Judge with Guwahati High Court and said how subordinate judiciary was not separate from the executive in some of the North Eastern states which led to justice being compromised. After a petition was filed, he ordered separation of the judiciary from executive and a notification was issued by virtue of which the subordinate judiciary came under the High Court.In Meghalaya, he said, efforts are still on to complete the separation of powers which he said was absolutely necessary. Unless the judiciary is independent, there will be threat to liberty and life of citizens from executive arbitrariness, Justice Patnaik said. Speaking on the occasion, senior advocate of Orissa High Court Bijan Bihari Ray pitched in for distribution of power. While managing trustee of the Memorial Trust Pratap Das delivered the welcome address and introduced the topic, chairman Ajit Das conducted the function.Vice Chancellor of National Law University, Orissa Prof Faizan Mustafa, senior advocates and members of High Court Bar Association and Bhubaneswar Bar Association were also present on the occasion. Justice Patnaik also felicitated two veteran members of Bhubaneswar Bar Association on behalf of the Trust.