He expressed these views while addressing the gathering at the Ceremonial Sitting of the Supreme Court today.

“The Judges in the exercise of judicial functions should be immune from outside control and influence and intimidation. That independence is also necessary from the other branches of government and from private and partisan interest,” he underlined.

“Judges should be above suspicion and should not leave even a glimpse for that suspicion to occur. A Judge must discharge his judicial functions with high integrity, impartially and intellectual honesty. The law would be like a ball of clay in the hands of an erudite Judge. Therefore, Judges should be ruthlessly honest, independent, and impartial and possess a judicial conscience to ensure that the ball of clay is moulded according to law,” the Attorney General pointed out.   

He proceeded to say that the maintenance of the independence of Judges and of the quality of the administration of justice would largely depend on the Judges themselves and the state of public opinion of the country, which demands their independence and impartially. 

Meanwhile, he said the sovereignty is in the people and is alienable and that sovereignty of the people is exercised by the judiciary in the public trust.  

“The independence and the integrity of the judiciary ought to be preserved for justice and the rule of law to prevail in a society. A judiciary should not only be independent but appear to be independent in order to gain the confidant of the people,” he said.

 “The independence and impartially of the judiciary is essential for a democratic system of government to function under the Rule of Law,” Attorney General added.