Be it the question of protecting democracy in Bihar, taming politicians trying to manipulate the process of law or playing the umpire for Indian cricket politics, the Supreme Court played its role as the Constitutional watchdog with elan in the year gone by.
In the process, the apex court came perilously close to a confrontation with the Executive. It also hit headlines when it rapped high constitutional functionaries for commenting on judgements ''without understanding them''.
One of the most momentous judgements of the year was the court holding the May 23 dissolution of the newly-constituted Bihar assembly as unconstitutional. Though the court decided not to revive the dissolved House in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the decision was a reassertion of the federal polity and an embarrassment to the UPA government at the Centre.
