Hon'ble Governor of Kerala Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that in a Democracy, every institution has its limits and the health of its functioning depends upon 'knowing and respecting the limits'.

The Governor was speaking after conferring the Justice VR Krishna Iyer Award to former Chief Justice of India and former Kerala Governor Shri Justice (Rtd.) P. Sathasivam here today. The award was instituted by the LAW Trust (Legal Assistance and Welfare Trust), Thiruvananthapuram.

The Governor deplored the tendency of one institution usurping the role of another in a democracy. He said that the power to amend the Constitution is vested with the Parliament and elected legislature, and the courts are there to 'interpret the Constitution and not to amend the Constitution'.

The Governor said that contradictory interpretations / verdicts on the same matter/ issue are not in the true spirit of the Constitution. He was referring to the three member Supreme Court judgement on Kannur University Vice Chancellor appointment earlier which upheld the supremacy of the Chancellor in the appointment process.

Accepting the Award, Shri Justice (Rtd.) P. Sathasivam said that courts have to remain committed to Justice Krishna Iyer's humanist ideals even when society is turning increasingly 'digital'.

Judges of Kerala High Court, Shri H. Nagaresh, K. Babu and Shri A. Badarudeen were present on the occasion.