Constitution · India · PART IV — Directive Principles of State Policy

Article 50 Constitution Separation of judiciary from executive

The Constitution of India · Edition: Supplied Law Library page: pocket edition attributed to Legislative Department, as on 10 September 2026; imported 6 November 2026

The State shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State.

Comments

Constitutional LawCourts cannot create or widen offences or prescribe punishments; making general rules of conduct and choosing policy belong to the legislature. Courts may fill gaps where there is a complete legislative vacuum affecting fundamental rights, but not construct parallel regimes in a field already occupied by law. — Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya v. Union of India, 2026 INSC 432.

Constitutional LawJudicial independence rests on public trust; reckless and baseless allegations of bias or motive against a sitting Judge undermine it and the credibility of the system. — Nilesh C. Ojha v. High Court of Judicature at Bombay, 2026 INSC 390.

Property LawReview is not an inherent power and must be conferred by statute. Section 57A of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act does not give Revenue Officers substantive review, Section 57B(3) barring reopening of decided matters; vesting judicial functions in untrained executive officers would blur the separation of powers. A 2008 review of a final vesting order was void and in any case failed on merits. — State of West Bengal v. Jai Hind Pvt. Ltd., 2026 INSC 132.

Constitutional LawCourts may direct authorities to perform their duties but cannot design engineering or administrative solutions themselves, such as ordering a particular sewer line through AIIMS to cure waterlogging. — All India Institute of Medical Sciences v. Shailendra Bhatnagar, Supreme Court, 2026.

Constitutional LawConstitutional functionaries must respect each other’s roles and avoid unwarranted comments; each branch of the State must show restraint towards the others. — Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy v. State of Telangana, Supreme Court, 2024.

Source document ↗

Judgments on Article 50

APR 201425FRI

LOK 2014 (4) SC 254 · Supreme Court of India

Union of India v. V. Sriharan @ Murugan

Subject–

JudgesJustice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice N.V. Ramana

ActsDelhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (Section 6); Prisons Act, 1894 (Section 59); Constitution of India (Articles 32, 50, 72(3), 73, 145(3), 162 and 254)

DEC 201213THU

LOK 2012 (12) SC 137 · Supreme Court of India

The Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Maharashtra v. S.C. Malte & Ors.

Subject–

Judges–

ActsSupreme Court Judges Rules, 1959 (Rule 5); Constitution of India (Articles 32, 50, 136, 217, 221, 224 and 226)

MAR 20096FRI

LOK 2009 (3) SC 613 · Supreme Court of India

Kannadasan v. Ajay Khose

Equivalent citations: 2009 (2) KLT SN 70

Subject–

Judges–

ActsConsumers Protection Act, 1986 (Section 16); Government of India Act, 1935 (Section 220); Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Section 4(1)(a)); City of Nagpur Corporation Act, 1948 (Section 15(g)); Constitution of India (Articles 19(1)(g), 50, 124, 164(4), 191(1), 216, 217, 217(1), 217(2)(a) and 233)

MAY 200718FRI

LOK 2007 (5) SC 1817 · Supreme Court of India

State of U.P. & Ors. v. Jeet S. Bisht & Anr.

Equivalent citations: 2007 (6) SCC 586 : 2007 AIR(SCW) 3427 : 2007 (8) JT 59 : 2007 (4) Supreme 359 : 2008 (1) LW 424

Subject–

JudgesJustice S.B. Sinha, Justice Markandey Katju

ActsConstitution of India (Articles 21, 50, 142 and 229)

SEP 20039TUE

LOK 2003 (9) SC 91 · Supreme Court of India

V.K. Majotra Shambhu Dayal Union of India & Ors. Gopal Singh v. Union of India & Ors. Union of India & Ors., Shambhu Dayal & Ors., Union of India & Ors.

Equivalent citations: 2003 (8) SCC 40 : 2003 SCC(L&,S) 1202 : 2003 (4) LLN 86 : 2003 (S2) JT 137 : 2003 (7) Scale 297 : 2003 (6) Supreme 943 : 2003 (5) SLT 388 : 2003 LIC 3176 : 2003 (6) SLR 471 : AIR 2003 SC 3909 : 2003 (99) FLR 527 : 2003 (10) SRJ 472

Subject–

JudgesJustice R.C. Lahoti, Justice Ashok Bhan

ActsAdministrative Tribunals Act, 1985 (Section 6); Constitution of India (Articles 32 and 50)

MAR 200014TUE

LOK 2000 (3) SC 142 · Supreme Court of India

State of Bihar v. Bal Mukund Sah

Equivalent citations: 2000 (4) SCC 640 : AIR 2000 SC 1296 : 2000 SCC(L&,S) 489 : 2000 (2) SLR 448 : 2000 LIC 1389 : 2000 SCC(L&,S) 489

Subject–

JudgesJustice S.B.Majmudar, Justice G.B.Pattanaik, Justice V.N.Khare, Justice U.C.Banerjee, Justice R.P.Sethi

ActsConstitution of India (Articles 16(4), 22(4), 32, 50, 124, 136, 213, 217, 233, 233(1), 234, 235, 236, 236(b), 309, 320, 335 and 368)

OCT 19936WED

LOK 1993 (10) SC 61 · Supreme Court of India

Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Associationv. U

Equivalent citations: AIR 1994 SC 268 : JT 1993 (5) 479 : 1993 (5) SLR 337 : 1993 (S) SCALE 67 : 1993 (4) SCC 441 : 1993 (S2) SCR 659 : AIR 1993 SCW 4101

Subject–

JudgesJustice S. Ratnavel Pandian, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, Justice Kuldip Singh, Justice J.S. Verma, Justice M.M. Punchhi, Justice Yogeshwar Day al

ActsConstitution of India (Articles 32, 50, 74(1), 74, 112(3)(d)(iii), 124(4), 124, 124(2), 124(1), 137, 216, 217(1), 217, 222, 222(1), 224, 226, 233, 235, 236(a) and 320(3)(c)); New Towns Act, 1946 (Section 1(1))