<h1>Judicial independence must be defended to ensure constitutional safeguards against partisan gubernatorial and censorship pressures.</h1> The CPI(M) leader asserted that several gubernatorial actions reflected partisan alignment with central interests and welcomed a recent apex court verdict as reinforcing constitutional norms. He highlighted administrative and extra legal pressures on cultural expression despite statutory censor board clearance, stressing the need to protect constitutional values, judicial independence and the neutrality of constitutional offices against partisan interference.