Guwahati, Oct. 18 -- Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has stressed that the rule of law is fundamental to India's constitutional democracy, warning that the executive cannot assume the judiciary's role in determining guilt and imposing punishment.

Speaking at the fourth Foundation Day programme of Girijananda Chowdhury University in Guwahati on Saturday, Justice Bhuyan said constitutional safeguards must be upheld and no individual, regardless of their position or power, should be above the law.

"No person, howsoever mighty or powerful, is above the law. It also means that no person, howsoever humble, is beneath the protection of law," Justice Bhuyan said while explaining the principles underlying the rule of law.

He emphasised...