Institutions 'more important' than individuals in office: Prez

President Ram Nath Kovind today said institutions are more important than individuals in office and should always maintain a "fraternal relationship" with other institutions.

His comments come at a time when an unprecedented crisis has rocked the Supreme Court after four senior judges attacked the Chief Justice of India Deepak Mishra on a range of issues including the allocation of important cases.

In his first Republic Day-eve address to the nation, Kovind spoke about maintaining discipline in institutions of the republic.


"A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions.

"Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence. Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there," he said.

Kovind said the institutions should have stakeholders and members who make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people.