Justice S. Muralidhar on the Intersection of Politics and Judiciary
At a recent panel discussion marking the launch of Gautam Bhatia’s book, “Unsealed Covers: A Decade of the Constitution, the Courts, and the State,” Justice (Retd.) S. Muralidhar shared his insights on the intertwining of politics and judicial decisions. The event also featured esteemed personalities like the author himself, renowned criminal lawyer Rebecca John, and senior journalist Seema Chisti.
Justice Muralidhar lauded Bhatia’s work for its candid portrayal of the courtroom’s inner workings over the past decade. He appreciated Bhatia’s unique vantage point, which he described as an “insider’s perspective” or a “ring-side view.” Unlike many legal correspondents who often tread cautiously due to court accreditations and editorial guidelines, Bhatia’s narrative stands out for its unfiltered candor. Justice Muralidhar remarked,
“Gautam’s refreshing candor is missing in print media… He makes full use of this freedom, and one has to admire the courage with which he has written this book. This is the kind of candour we need.”
Highlighting the challenges faced by legal correspondents, Justice Muralidhar touched upon the often-unspoken tales of stories being shelved at the editorial stage. He also discussed the potential bias introduced by selective information leaks to specific newspapers. In contrast, Bhatia’s book offers a fresh, unbiased perspective on courtroom events.
One of the book’s significant achievements, as pointed out by Justice Muralidhar, is its illumination of judges’ ‘definitive positions.’ He emphasized that many political issues are presented in courts under the guise of legal matters. Citing examples like the Hijab case, food choices in Lakshadweep, and flag-flying in a Kerala temple, he stated,
“Judges do make political choices. They may think they are being neutral. Politics and judicial functioning are not as separate as we want them to be.”
Justice Muralidhar concluded by celebrating Bhatia’s unique perspective and the liberty he exercised in both his blog and book. He underscored the importance of such publications that strive to unveil the ‘truth about the law.’ He added,
“Telling the truth about the law… may require a slightly different framework of analysis… Congratulations, Gautam! This is a wonderful contribution to all of us.”
About Justice S. Muralidhar: Justice (Dr) S. Muralidhar, prior to his recent retirement, held the esteemed position of Chief Justice of Orissa High Court from January 2021 to August 2023. Over his illustrious 17-year tenure, he also served in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Delhi High Court.
