In an intriguing courtroom exchange that may signal a cultural shift in the Indian judiciary, Supreme Court Justice P.S. Narasimha playfully challenged the entrenched courtroom norm of addressing judges as “My Lord” or “Your Lordships.“ During a session, Justice Narasimha, who was on the bench with Justice A.S. Bopanna, responded to a senior advocate’s repeated use of the honorific with a light-hearted proposition that underscored his preference for a more modern form of address.
“How many times will you say ‘My Lords’?”
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Justice Narasimha asked the advocate, who was adhering to the traditional form of respect in his submissions.
“If you stop saying this, then I will give you half of my salary,”
he quipped, eliciting a moment of levity in the courtroom.
The senior advocate’s adherence to the colonial-era honorifics, which have been a mainstay in the Indian legal system, was met with Justice Narasimha’s suggestion for a simpler alternative.
“Why don’t you use ‘Sir’ instead,”
he offered, signaling a preference for a term that, while still respectful, is devoid of the feudal implications carried by “My Lord.”
Justice Narasimha even joked about keeping a count of how often the term was used, indicating a gentle nudge towards changing courtroom practices. This exchange is not an isolated incident but part of a broader conversation within the Indian legal community about the appropriateness of such honorifics in a modern democracy.
The Bar Council of India, recognizing the need for change, had passed a resolution in 2006 advising lawyers to refrain from using “My Lord” and “Your Lordship.” The resolution aimed to shed the remnants of colonial subservience and promote a more egalitarian form of address. Despite this, the resolution has seen limited adherence, with many lawyers and judges continuing the traditional practice.
Justice Narasimha’s remarks have brought this issue back into the spotlight, suggesting that the time may be ripe for the Indian judiciary to reevaluate its adherence to these formalities. The conversation initiated by Justice Narasimha’s comments could be a stepping stone towards modernizing the language used in Indian courtrooms, reflecting the evolving ethos of the country’s legal institutions.
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