Unlike many who cheer and applaud every time the Supreme Court steps into the domain of the executive, I tend to take the old-fashioned view that in a republic with a written Constitution, as India is, the fine balance between the three pillars of democracy should be maintained scrupulously. The Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary have their demarcated domains and responsibilities mandated by the Constitution. None should step on the toes of the other or assume their responsibilities.

Yet, there are occasions when the judiciary, on being implored, cannot but step in to prevent or punish gross misconduct of the executive and the legislature. Some examples would suffice. But for the Supreme Court, the UPA Government’s Great Spectrum Robbery and the Coal Scam would have gone unchecked and unpunished. The legislature’s failure to realise the damage potential of the IMDT Act that worked in the interest of illegal immigrants instead of enabling their detection and deportation was set right by the Supreme Court striking down this pernicious law.