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👉 Three Branches of the Government:
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Legislature (Parliament)
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Executive (President, PM, Council of Ministers)
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Judiciary (Supreme Court, High Courts)
🏛️ 1. Legislature – Law-Making Body
➤ Main Functions:
• Make, amend, and repeal laws
• Represent public will in governance
➤ Structure:
• Lok Sabha (House of the People) – Elected directly by citizens (Art. 81)
• Rajya Sabha (Council of States) – Elected by state legislatures (Art. 80)
➤ Constitutional Articles:
• Art. 79–123 govern Parliament’s powers and structure
👤 2. Executive – Policy Implementation & Administration
➤ Key Roles:
• Implement laws, maintain law & order, run welfare schemes
➤ Key Posts & Appointment:
• President (Art. 52–54) → Elected by MPs + MLAs
• Prime Minister (Art. 75) → Appointed by President, leads majority in Lok Sabha
• Council of Ministers → Advised by PM, max 15% of house strength (91st Amendment, 2003)
• Vice President (Art. 63) → Rajya Sabha Chairman
➤ Civil Services:
• Recruited by UPSC under Articles 309–311
➤ Duties:
• PM must inform President of all decisions (Art. 78)
⚖️ 3. Judiciary – Guardian of Constitution
➤ Role:
• Interpret laws
• Resolve disputes
• Protect Fundamental Rights
• Check Legislature & Executive powers
➤ Hierarchy:
• Supreme Court → High Courts → District Courts
➤ Appointments:
• By President on recommendation of Collegium System (Second Judges Case, 1993)
➤ Judicial Independence:
• Articles 124–147 provide safeguards (e.g., tenure, impeachment process)
📚 Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
➤ Meaning:
• Legal action for protection of Public Interest (not personal)
➤ Filed for Issues Like:
• Pollution, bonded labour, child neglect, exploitation, women’s rights, heritage, etc.
➤ Who Can File:
• Any citizen or even the court itself (suo motu)
➤ No Legal Definition – Developed via Judicial Activism
➤ Significance:
• Empowers weaker sections
• Makes justice accessible to all
⚖️ Separation of Powers – Why It Matters?
➤ Definition:
• Power is split among Legislature, Executive & Judiciary
• Prevents concentration of power (Montesquieu’s theory)
➤ Importance:
• ✅ Prevents misuse of authority
• ✅ Enables Checks & Balances
• ✅ Improves Efficiency
• ✅ Protects Citizens’ Rights
➤ Key Provisions:
• Art. 50 → Judiciary separate from Executive
• Art. 121, 211 → Judges’ conduct can’t be discussed in legislatures
• Art. 122, 212 → Courts can’t question legislative procedures
• Art. 245–246 + 7th Schedule → Clear Union & State powers
• Art. 361 → Immunity to President & Governors
➤ Landmark Cases:
• Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973) → Basic Structure Doctrine
• S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) → Limited misuse of President’s Rule
• Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975) → Separation upheld
🔄 Interrelationship Between Three Branches
🔁 Cooperation Areas
➤ Law-making → Executive implements (e.g., GST law)
➤ Judicial suggestions → Legislative reforms (e.g., Vishaka Guidelines → Sexual Harassment Act)
➤ Emergencies → Unified action (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic)
🔀 Overlapping Powers
📘 Legislature’s Overlaps
➤ With Judiciary:
• Impeach judges (Art. 124(4), 217(1))
• Amend laws after judicial review
• Punish for contempt of Parliament
➤ With Executive:
• Ministers = MPs → Dual membership
• No-confidence motion → Can remove Executive
• Debates, committees, Question Hour → Check Executive
• Impeach President (Art. 61)
• Council of Ministers advises President
🧑⚖️ Executive’s Overlaps
➤ With Judiciary:
• Appoints judges (Art. 124)
• Grant pardons/remission (Art. 72, 161)
• Sets up Tribunals, Quasi-judicial bodies
➤ With Legislature:
• Promulgate Ordinances (Art. 123)
• Make rules for internal working (Art. 77, 166)
• Delegated legislation – Create detailed rules (e.g., FSSAI rules under Food Safety Act, 2006)
⚖ Judiciary’s Overlaps
➤ With Executive:
• Issue directives (Art. 142)
• Conduct Judicial review of executive actions
➤ With Legislature:
• Strike down unconstitutional laws (Art. 13)
• Basic Structure Doctrine → Prevent harmful amendments