The President has sounded a note of caution on judicial activism and said judicial pronouncements must respect the boundaries that separate the legislature, executive and judiciary.

Addressing the valedictory function of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Madras High Court on Saturday Pranab Mukherjee also said everything must be done to protect the independence of judiciary from any form of encroachment.

Making his first visit outside the national capital after assuming the office of President on July 25, Mukherjee urged judiciary to keep reinventing itself through a process of introspection and self correction at the same time.

President Pranab Mukherjee has said the credibility of the judiciary will depend on the quality of the judges who man various Courts.

Referring to backlog of cases, the President said the courts must be strengthened with additional resources to provide speedy justice and that government was fully engaged in this task.

The filling of vacancies in courts across the country is a matter that must be taken up as a priority by all concerned.

Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and other judges of the Madras High Court, Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa and lawyers were among others present on the occasion.

Madras High Court was one of the three Courts established in India by Letters Patent issued by Queen Victoria after the Calcutta and Bombay High Courts in 1862.

Mukherjee said a national mission for justice delivery has been launched and the Constitution was being amended to raise the retirement age of High Court Judges. Efforts are also being made to create an All India Judicial Service.

The President said the principle of separation of powers is equally a principle of restraint. While the exercise of powers of the legislature and executive are subject to judicial review, the only check on judiciary's exercise of powers is the self-imposed discipline and self restraint.

Against the backdrop of the current debate over the proposed Judicial Accountability Bill, he said judging the judges was a delicate and sensitive topic and one which has been viewed with some concern by jurists.

“Legislation which carefully balances the independence of the judiciary with the need to protect and preserve its credibility is a useful complement to the judiciary’s own efforts.

Ultimately, the credibility of the judiciary will depend on the quality of the judges who man the various Courts of the country.

Therefore, the process of selection and appointment of judges should conform to the highest of standards and should be based on well established principles.

The President said independence of judiciary is widely recognised and a matter of pride for every citizen of the country.

The Indian judiciary, he said, has enlarged the scope of fundamental rights, increased the space for democracy while maintaining the quality of justice delivered.