Judiciary, an essential party of nation building: Prez

Kochi, Oct 28: Pointing out that Independent judiciary was an essential part of nation's building, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said it was functioning as the guardian of the ethical principles underlying the Constitution. Addressing the valedictory function of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Kerala High Court here, he said 'Our legal system, with an independent judiciary as its bedrock, is an essential part of our nation building process. It acts as a corrective and it upholds the sanctity of the law and of natural justice. And it functions as the guardian of the ethical principles underlying the Constitution.’’ 'This makes everybody, connected with the process of justice delivery a nation builder. Both judicial officers as well as court officers – namely advocates, who assist in the justice delivery system – are nation builders. On them – on you, I should say – lies a heavy responsibility,’’ the President said. Reminding the legal fraternity that in the court room they should be conscious that common citizen of the country were looking them, Mr Kovind said, 'Our common citizens have that sacred trust and faith that the judiciary will ever stand by them, and never let them down. I am sure the judiciary will always live up to the high expectations that our people have of it.’’ UNI