Former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju recently shared a personal account explaining why he believes he will never be allowed to visit Pakistan. Despite being warmly invited by former Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood during an Iftar event in Delhi, Justice Katju revealed that his subsequent attempts to follow up were ignored.
Former Supreme Court judge and outspoken public intellectual Justice Markandey Katju recently shared a deeply personal account of his long-standing desire to visit Pakistan — a dream that, despite initial positive gestures, was never fulfilled.
Who is Justice Markandey Katju
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Markandey Katju is not only known for his judicial brilliance but also for his deep academic interests and wide-ranging knowledge across several disciplines. Apart from his command over jurisprudence, he has a profound interest in Sanskrit, Urdu, History, Philosophy, Science, and Sociology. His judgments often reflect this interdisciplinary learning, making them unconventional and thought-provoking.
Justice Katju is the author of several insightful legal books, including “Law in the Scientific Era”, “Interpretation of Taxing Statutes”, and “Domestic Enquiry”. These works highlight his effort to blend scientific reasoning with legal interpretation and are widely regarded by legal scholars and practitioners.
He hails from a distinguished family with a strong legacy of public service and judicial excellence. His father, the late Justice S.N. Katju, served as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court. His grandfather, Dr. K.N. Katju, was one of India’s most respected leaders—having served as Union Home and Defence Minister, Governor of West Bengal and Orissa, and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. His uncle, Justice B.N. Katju, also held the prestigious position of Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
Justice Katju has a passionate love for Indian culture, and this passion inspired him to delve deep into India’s intellectual history. He has worked extensively to revive interest in Mimansa, an ancient Indian system of interpretation.
His book “Mimansa Rules of Interpretation” is a testimony to this commitment. In his lectures and articles (featured in Part I of the book), Justice Katju emphasizes that Mimansa principles were among the greatest intellectual achievements of ancient India, yet sadly, most educated Indians today remain unaware of them.
During his tenure as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice Katju delivered several landmark decisions. One of his most notable judgments was in Rama Muthuramalingam v. Deputy Superintendent of Police, AIR 2005 Madras 1. In this historic verdict, he dealt with the constitutional relationship between the Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive, firmly advocating for judicial restraint and stressing that the judiciary must not interfere in the legislative or executive domains.
At the first anniversary celebration of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Justice Katju stirred national conversation with his bold statement:
“The people have a right to criticize the judiciary as the people were supreme in a democracy, and all authorities including Judges were servants of the people.”
This honest and democratic perspective was highly appreciated by many, including legal luminary Mr. Fali Nariman, who praised Justice Katju’s remarks in a centre-spread article in The Indian Express.
Justice Katju was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 10th April 2006, and served with distinction until his retirement on 20th September 2011. His tenure in the apex court was marked by bold judgments, scholarly insights, and a commitment to constitutional values.
Justice Katju began his reflections by remembering his close friend Kamal Morarka, a Mumbai-based businessman and a staunch secularist.
Morarka was known for hosting grand Iftaar dinners in Delhi every year during the holy month of Ramzan, inviting prominent personalities from different walks of life — “eminent persons, including leading politicians (of all parties), distinguished academicians, mediapersons, eminent lawyers, etc.”
At one such Iftaar event, Morarka introduced Justice Katju to the then Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood (now Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary). The diplomat was asked by Kamal to sit next to Katju.
The judge recalled, “When Suhail was seated, I said to him ‘Suhail saheb, I have never been to Pakistan, and I am very keen to go there and see the beautiful places there, which I have only seen on Youtube etc, and particularly visit Lahore’.”
To this, Mahmood responded with enthusiasm, “Justice Katju, you are a former Judge of the Indian Supreme Court. It will be an honour for us to invite you. I will see to it that you receive an invitation from my government soon, and are declared a state guest.”
The diplomat then handed over his visiting card, which included his email ID and mobile number. Encouraged by this positive response, Katju returned home and made several attempts to contact him.
“When I returned home, I sent several emails to him, but there was no response. I also repeatedly called on the mobile number on his visiting card, but no one took the call.”
Puzzled by the sudden silence, Justice Katju reflected:
“I wondered why this was so.”
Then, he arrived at a likely explanation.
“I then realized that probably Suhail, on returning to the Pakistan High Commission, must have contacted his superiors in Islamabad, and these superiors must have told him to keep away from me, describing me as a dangerous, undesirable, and devilish person who calls Pakistan a fake, artificial country (which I do).”
Justice Katju has long held the view that Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh are one nation, artificially divided by colonial powers. He believes the two-nation theory was flawed and that partition was a British strategy to weaken the subcontinent.
His View On Pahalgam killings
He recently commented on the Pahalgam killings, claiming it was part of a broader conspiracy by global powers to keep South Asia divided and underdeveloped.
“The Pahalgam killings must be seen in this context. It was clearly orchestrated by a developed country through its local agents,” he asserted.
He elaborated that Western powers fear a united and industrialised subcontinent — with India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh combining their strengths — as this would threaten their economic dominance.
“Like a ‘madari’ making his monkeys clash, developed countries incite us against each other,” he said.
Justice Katju called upon the people of South Asia to reject conflict and unite to fight common problems: poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, inflation, and inadequate public services.
“Two poor people cannot be adversaries. Those who provoke us to clash are our real enemies,” he declared.
He didn’t spare the Indian media either, accusing them of spreading jingoism instead of truth.
He described the Indian media as “largely sold-out and worthless” for fanning war hysteria and misunderstanding his satire.
Despite all the obstacles, Justice Katju still longs to visit Pakistan, especially Lahore, where his grandfather Dr. K.N. Katju studied in the early 1900s.
He said: “I have never visited Pakistan. I always wanted to visit the country, as I have heard so much about the beautiful places there.”
He expressed his desire to see historic landmarks and reconnect with cultural roots:
“I would like to visit Lahore, where my revered grandfather Dr. KN Katju, former Union Home and Law Minister in Nehru’s cabinet, went to as a student in 1900, and I would like to go to Rang Mahal High School and Forman Christian College where he had studied till around 1906. I would like to go to Anarkali Bazaar, of which I have heard so much. I would like to see the famous Badshahi Mosque built by the Mughal Emperors and bestowed with gifts by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. And of course, I would like to visit the Lahore High Court and meet my fraternity (lawyers and Hon’ble Judges) there.”
He further added:
“I was Chief Justice of Delhi High Court (before becoming Judge of the Indian Supreme Court), and since the Delhi High Court was an emanation from the Lahore High Court (before Partition appeals from Delhi District Court would go to the Lahore High Court) I can, in a sense, claim to be a former Chief Justice of that Court.”
His bucket list also includes scenic and historical locations across Pakistan:
“I would like to see Murree, which I am told is a beautiful hill station. I would like to see Karachi, where many people from my state UP (mohajirs) live. I would particularly like to meet Dr. Khalil Chishty, for whose release from Indian custody I fought a long, and ultimately successful, battle. I would like to see Peshawar, capital of the Kushan Empire and home to the Kanishka stupa. I would like to see Quetta, the Fruit Garden of Pakistan, Harappa and Mohenjodaro, and many other places.”
Given his background in the media, Justice Katju also wishes to interact with bold Pakistani journalists:
“Since apart from being a judge I was also associated with the media (having been Chairman of the Press Council of India) I would also like to meet brave journalists like Hasan Nisar, Najam Sethi, Imtiaz Alam (whom I met in Delhi), Muhammad Ziauddin (whom I met in Paris), Hamid Mir (who bravely faced many attacks and death threats), Raza Rumi and his associate Ailia Zehra (who are the only Pakistani journalists having the courage to publish my articles), Sajjad Azhar Peerzada, etc.”
But he ends with a sense of resignation, acknowledging that his hope may remain unfulfilled:
“But I know this is just a dream, since I am persona non grata with the Pakistan authorities, and will never get a visa.”
Summing up his deep desire and the diplomatic wall that kept him away, Justice Katju again recalled that moment during last year’s Ramzan, when he told Sohail Mahmood of his wish to visit Pakistan.
“He said Pakistan would be honoured to host a former Indian Supreme Court Judge, and he would make all arrangements. He gave me his visiting card, which had his email address and mobile number.”
Yet,
“However, later, whenever I tried to call him he would not take my calls, and he would not respond to my emails.”
He concluded with a powerful vision and a personal note of hope mixed with sorrow:
“My guess is he must have contacted his superiors in Islamabad, and they must have told him to keep away from me like the plague, because I call Pakistan a farzi (fake), artificial country, the two-nation theory bogus, Partition a historical British swindle, and want reunification of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh under a secular govt. I believe we are really one country, sharing the same culture, and were one for centuries since Mughal times.”
And finally:
“Although I am absolutely sure that India and Pakistan (and Bangladesh) will reunite, like West and East Germany, my guess is that it will take 15-20 years, and I will not be around then (since I am already 74). So, I doubt I will ever see Pakistan.”
