![]() Media manifests freedom of speech within the constraints enunciated by sociocultural norms and restrictions imposed by the constitution. It acts as a watchdog and keeps the system functional within stated limits of the constitution and fundamental freedoms. Free media is society’s check on both the state and the government. A legislation contrived to favour a majority thus is open to scrutiny by the judiciary for its intent, purpose and effect on the rights of a minority in parliament. Democracy thus must ensure its balance and fairness to forge a cohesive society. Independent judiciary in principle holds sacrosanct the rights of the minorities against the tyranny of the majority imposed through the force of numbers or the power of legislation. Similarly, a fair judicial concept protects a citizen against another stronger or more influential individual and his exploitative and manipulative power. Only an effective judiciary independent of influence of any kind can assure that. ![]() Most importantly a judicial system protects fundamental human rights against dominating power of the state. Independent judiciary keeps the people invested in a system through fairness and protecting their rights. They may not have local governments at all which turns democracy tenuous and fragile. Sometime nations hold an electoral exercise but remain unmindful of delegating power to the lowest tier in a government. ![]() ![]() The quality of these two activities will define the character, the quality, and the credibility of any democracy. Citizen engagement comes via two basic tenets: an electoral process which should be ideally free and fair, and a concept of local governments as the third tier of governance which impacts a citizen’s day-to-day life - the essence of democratic culture. He tweets and can be contacted at rests on three founding pillars: citizens’ engagement, independent judiciary and free media. The writer is a political, security and defence analyst. ![]()
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