New Delhi: Differing with some of his Cabinet colleagues, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj today came out in support of the judiciary, saying judges are only doing their job and that 'adverse' court orders should not be construed as judicial activism.

The Minister's remarks come close on the heels of critical comments from within and outside the government on certain recent verdicts which were perceived as outside the domain of judiciary, especially the recent Supreme Court orders on the issue of sealing in the capital.

Stressing that power of judicial review is "the very soul of the Constitution," Bhardwaj said judges are only discharging their duties by reviewing various orders of the government, or laws passed by Parliament.

"An order passed by a court can be adverse also. Where is the overstepping? I don't subscribe to the view that you gag the courts. Let them do their job," the Law Minister said in an interview to sources.

"Just as no one can stop Parliament from making a law, because it is its Constitutional function and no one can challenge it, similarly it is the courts' job to uphold or strike down the law.

"The power of court of judicial review is the very soul of Constitution. No one can dilute it. It is only those who suffer as a result of review talk of judicial activism," he said, brushing aside allegations that courts were overstepping into the domains of other organs of the state.