Former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized the importance of literature in making the law more humane. He highlighted how legal texts often lack context and compassion, while literature provides deeper insights into moral and ethical dilemmas. He noted that understanding beyond statutes is crucial for addressing complex legal and social issues. Literature, he said, helps bridge the gap between law and society, ensuring laws evolve with changing times.
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud emphasized the importance of literature in enriching legal understanding during the inaugural ceremony of “Vidhi Utsav 2025 – The Festival of Law, Legal Literature and Luminaries,” organized by Oakbridge Publishing.
He stated,
“Literature humanizes the law. What legal text may lack in context, compassion, and currency, it may derive from literature.”
Chandrachud noted that as legal professionals make moral decisions, the law often falls short in adapting to a dynamic world, requiring a deeper sociological and historical understanding.
He illustrated this point by discussing the Supreme Court’s examination of the sub-classification of scheduled castes and tribes, stressing the need for a nuanced perspective.
Advocating for grassroots data to keep law aligned with societal changes, he remarked,
“This looking beyond the law is essential for perspective, for clarity,”
Chandrachud described literature as a bridge between law and society, acting as a corrective tool.
Highlighting its role in challenging majoritarianism and fostering difficult conversations, he explained,
“Literature confronts the letter of the law with the lived experiences of the people it governs,”
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He also pointed out instances where the law perpetuated injustice, such as the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995, which adopted a “medical understanding” of disability.
He noted that over time, lawmakers recognized the societal nature of disability, leading to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, which redefined disability to reflect social realities.
Highlighting the necessity of engaging critically with diverse forms of literature Chandrachud concluded,
“This understanding of what the law should be is derived in no small measure from the body of literature that scrutinized disability law,”,
Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud stressed the importance of literature in making the law more humane at the Vidhi Utsav 2025. He highlighted how literature adds context and compassion to legal texts, aiding in moral decision-making. He cited disability law reforms as an example of literature’s influence on legal evolution. Chandrachud urged legal professionals to engage with literature for a deeper und
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