Context: Some people have confused judicial independence with the tendency to strike down legislation or executive action.
Role of Judiciary

• The Judiciary is the system of courts that interpret and applies law in legal cases in the name of the state.
• The function of the judiciary is to be accountable by dispensing justice.
• Judicial independence goes hand in hand with judicial accountability.
• Judicial independence is one of the basic features of the Constitution of India.
• It is the guardian and protector of our fundamental rights.

What are the recent examples which demonstrate how the Judiciary stood contrary to the Government?

• In Indian Constitution there is feature of Separation of Powers among the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. So, that each of them may work without any interference from the outside.

The following are the examples of judiciary independent verdicts that were not favourable to the government:-

• Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).
• Supreme Court lifted the ban from Goa mining sector.
• Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar, while affecting the then-nascent fintech industry.
• Supreme Court struck down the Reserve Bank of India’s framework resolution plan for debt recovery which was proposed to ease the pains related to stranded assets.
• The quashing of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) appointment.
• The quashing of spectrum allocation or striking down allocation of coal mines.
• Thus, observing the rule of law and calling out illegality is not bias. These verdicts were not a political decision instead they were an act of calling out the loot of India’s resources.

How does the government intervene with the judiciary and violates separation of power?
Some politicians try to influence the independent feature of the judiciary in the name of “legitimate criticism. Such as-

• Issuing threats such as impeachment for deemed “misbehaviour”.
• Imputing motives to judges for their decisions.
• Referring to the judge’s caste.
• Saying that judiciary was subservient to the government.
• Toeing the party’s lines or agendas in the judiciary’s actions.

For Instances:The following are the prime examples of the government using judiciary for ulterior motives and creating doubt where none exists-

• Justice Loya case.
• Public Interest Litigation on Assam’s detention centres.

Road Ahead

• The Supreme Court is an independent organ of the state, not a political organ. The need of the time is that people should be able to distinguish between a narrative of distrust being peddled for personal and political gains from reality. 
• It is the duty of the court to observe the rules and laws while giving the verdicts and under no circumstances appease the aspirations of political proxies or lawyers for their personal ambitions. The Court should rule out strict laws to deal with the attacks on its integrity and independence.