Former CJI N V Ramana called the judiciary a vital hope for the common citizen while launching his book “Narratives off the Bench.” He urged reforms in judicial infrastructure, diversity, and legal aid to ensure true access to justice.
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana, while launching his new book titled “Narratives off the Bench: A Judge Speaks”, shared deep insights about his life, career, and thoughts on the Indian judiciary.
Speaking at the launch event, Justice Ramana said that the judiciary is not just a place to solve disputes, but it plays a bigger role in society and remains one of the few remaining hopes for common people.
The book, as described by him, is not a technical discussion of legal rules. Instead, it is a collection of his personal thoughts and experiences from his public speeches and life journey.
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Justice Ramana said,
“The book was not a commentary on legal doctrines but a compilation of my thoughts which I shared through various public speeches, and the thoughts which shaped over years of observations, reflections and inner dialogues.”
He explained that the book talks about his experiences from different stages of his life—being a student leader, a trade union activist, a journalist, a lawyer, and later, a judge.
he said,
“I have tried to crystallise these experiences into words. The judiciary is not a mere adjudicator of disputes. It is a symbol of constitutional morality. It is one of the last remaining spaces of hope for the common man,”
Justice Ramana also pointed out that Indian newspapers dedicate a large amount of space to court-related news.
“Every day, newspapers in the country gave about one-third space in them to report on court proceedings and commentary on the court cases. Yet when it comes to public discourse, the judiciary remains an enigma.”
He said that while people in India openly discuss politics, they often don’t understand much about the judiciary.
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That is why, through his speeches in the book, he tried to explain and clear up common misunderstandings about the legal system.
“Yet when it comes to public discourse, the judiciary remains an enigma.”
He added,
“It was in this backdrop that I had tried to communicate with the people through speeches in the book to ‘demystify various misnomers’.”
Remembering his time as a judge, Justice Ramana said that he always raised concerns about important issues in the legal system.
These included the need to make the judiciary more suited to Indian needs, improve court buildings, bring more diversity into the system, promote Indian languages in court, and strengthen legal aid services.
“Over the years, I constantly highlighted the systemic issues, such as the necessity for indianisation of the judiciary, revamping judicial infrastructure, infusing diversity in the judicial system, integrating Indian languages into the court proceedings, strengthening the legal aid, etc. I believe these issues are not administrative. They are fundamental to our promise of access to quality justice.”
He said that while some progress was made in these areas, an important reform is still pending—setting up a National Judicial Infrastructure Authority.
“Though I was able to collectively make progress in some key areas, the crucial issue of the creation of the National Judicial Infrastructure Authority remained a ‘distant dream’.”
Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant also spoke during the event and praised the book for its meaningful message.
He said that the book sends a clear message that those in powerful or respected positions must use them responsibly.
“Throughout this book, there is a quiet and consistent insistence that every position privilege must be matched with purpose, that every title must carry with it an obligation to serve, to uplift and to reflect.”
He highlighted that Justice Ramana, even while talking about building better courts, kept the focus on those who come to court for justice.
“He reminds us that every institutional reform must keep the litigant in focus.”
Justice Kant also referred to one of the practical suggestions in the book, where Justice Ramana asks senior lawyers to take up a few cases for free each month to help those who cannot afford legal services.
“In one of the most practical appeals in the book, he urges senior members of the bar to take on two pro bono cases every month; if adopted widely, he says it would transform the legal and aid landscape in India.”
Talking about gender inequality in the legal profession, Justice Kant said Justice Ramana pointed out that many talented women lawyers don’t get the opportunities they deserve, which prevents them from getting noticed and promoted.
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“He notes how many women lawyers don’t get the briefs they deserve, and therefore miss the visibility required for elevation. He advocates for effort, appointments and reservations in legal education to correct the imbalance, and he reminds us that diversity is not just symbolic.”
The book “Narratives off the Bench: A Judge Speaks” is a reflection of Justice N V Ramana’s personal and professional life, giving readers a closer look at how one of India’s top judges views the role of the judiciary, the responsibilities of legal professionals, and the ongoing need for reform in the Indian justice system.
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