It ensures that the Legislature and Executive cannot interfere in judicial functioning.
Explanation
The doctrine of Separation of Powers divides the machinery of government into three branches: the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. For the judiciary to uphold the Rule of Law and act as the guardian of the Constitution, it must remain insulated from political pressures. Article 50 of the Directive Principles of State Policy explicitly mandates the separation of the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.
Option Analysis:
- It ensures that the Legislature and Executive cannot interfere in judicial functioning. is Correct: The core objective of the separation of powers regarding the judiciary is to ensure that the Legislature and Executive cannot encroach upon the judicial domain. This insulation allows judges to discharge their duties without fear, favor, or external pressure, thereby guaranteeing impartiality.
- It grants the Executive absolute power to appoint judges. is Incorrect: If the Executive held absolute power to appoint judges, the judiciary would likely become committed to the government's ideology rather than the Constitution. To prevent this, the Indian Constitution provides for a consultative process (interpreted through the Collegium system) to limit Executive discretion.
- It requires judges to seek public approval through elections. is Incorrect: In the Indian constitutional scheme, judges are appointed, not elected. Election of judges is avoided to prevent the politicization of the judiciary, ensuring that judgments are based on law rather than populist sentiment.
- It empowers the Parliament to dismiss judges without an impeachment process. is Incorrect: Security of tenure is a prerequisite for independence. The Constitution protects judges from arbitrary dismissal by the Parliament or Executive. A judge can only be removed through a rigorous impeachment process on grounds of proved misbehavior or incapacity.
Key Takeaway:
Separation of Powers acts as a constitutional firewall that secures judicial independence by preventing the other two organs of the state from interfering in the administration of justice and the tenure of judges.