My Lord, What is Truth? “‘Satyameva Jayate’ is a mantra from the ancient scripture Mundaka Upanishad. It was adopted as the National Motto of India. It is inscribed in Devanagari script at the base of the National Emblem. The meaning is as follows: truth alone triumphs; not falsehood. Through truth the divine path is spread […]
Read more "The Importance of Being Earnest I"I know a corrupt judge when I see him. You are almost there, Mr. Rohtagi. Don’t forget Hon’ble Justice Joseph’s BenchMate in almost 150 orders/judgments. The one who saved the President in Purno Agitok Sangma v. Pranab Mukherjee, (2013) 2 SCC 239. The one who became a Chief Justice of India too. “Are you watching closely?”
Read more "Almost There, Mr. Rohtagi"“My diminishing respect for you ends today.” Does it matter to the “Court of the People of India” whether Mr. Ram Jethmalani respects our Hon’ble Prime Minister? Perfection is attained, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away. It is surprising that Mr. Jethmalani has still […]
Read more "What a Playa: Ram Jethmalani"‘Colorful’ does not only indicate vices or indiscretions. If Justice Shamit Mukherjee, at No. 10, is Grey, then my choice for No. 9 represents Red. It must be granted to Hon’ble Justice K.S.P. Radhakrishnan. Jallikattu, (2014) 7 SCC 547 and studying of “Bull Behavioural Ethology” fetched Justice Radhakrishnan: PETA (India) Man of the Year Award, […]
Read more "Judges with Colorful Lives: No. 9"Former Judge of High Court of Australia is a self-declared homosexual. William Rehnquist, 16th Chief Justice of the United States, was once addicted to ‘placidyl’. There is no definitive example of a quirky Indian Judge. In this new series, I shall bring to you the names of 10 Indian Judges who I think have had […]
Read more "Judges with Colorful Lives: No. 10"In Common Cause v. UOI, (2014) 5 SCC 338 it was held, “A vivid reading of Para 104 of Aruna Shanbaug, (2011) 4 SCC 454 demonstrates, reasoning in Para 104 is directly inconsistent with observation in Para 101. In Paras 21 & 101 Bench was of view, Constitution Bench in Gian Kaur held, euthanasia could be made […]
Read more "Referred to Larger Bench IV: Katju’s Eccentricity"“Statutes often use expressions such as “deems it necessary”, “reason to believe” et cetera. Suffice it to say, these expressions have been held not to mean: subjective satisfaction of the officer concerned. Such power given to the concerned officer is not an arbitrary power and has to be exercised in accordance with the restraints imposed […]
Read more "Reason To Believe"My Lord, What is Poetic License? “There is no authority who gives a license to a poet. These are words from the realm of literature. The poet assumes his own freedom, which is allowed to him by the fundamental concept of poetry. He is free to depart from the reality; fly away from grammar; walk […]
Read more "Poetic License"Estoppels and Estoppels (Lord Denning). If equity is flexible enough to permit Proprietary Estoppel to be used as a cause of action, there is no reason in logic or principle why Promissory Estoppel should also not be available as a cause of action, if necessary to satisfy equity. “The law on the subject of Promissory […]
Read more "Promissory Estoppel I"“The expression Flies in the Face of Common Sense is taken from an interesting Judgment of the House of Lords reported in R v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1995) 2 All ER 244. Lord Browne Wilkinson was faced with an argument that Section 171 of The Criminal Justice Act of 1988 vests in […]
Read more "Flies in the Face of Common Sense"“A clear example of opaqueness and bad decision was the appointment of the 59-year-old sister of a CJI to the Cal HC.” The CJI alluded to is: Hon’ble Justice Altamas Kabir; The sister: Hon’ble Justice Shukla Kabir Sinha. The symmetry is astounding. This day, 2 years ago, the following letter was sent out: Mr. Furuqan’s Letter
Read more "Hon’ble Justice Shukla Kabir Sinha"Justice Chandrashekaraiah (Retd.) v. Janekere C. Krishna, (2013) 3 SCC 117 held, views expressed by Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka have no ‘primacy’ in process of appointment of Lokayukta or Upa Lokayukta by Governor of Karnataka. High Court was of view, since Order passed by Governor of Karnataka, appointing Justice Chandrashekaraiah as an […]
Read more "Primacy of Views I: The Karnataka Lokayukta Act"It is well settled, construction of terms of a contract is primarily for an Arbitrator to decide. He is entitled to take a view, which he holds to be correct one after considering material before him and after interpreting provisions of contract. Court while considering challenge to an Arbitral Award does not sit in appeal […]
Read more "An Arbitrator’s Construction of Contract"“For a long time I’ve wanted to compile a list of films about the Indian judicial system (I must admit I’ve watched very few). If people have any such lists they would like to share in the comment section I would love to hear about them. If there is enough of a response I’ll then […]
Read more "In Re: Nick Robinson"42 answers to “Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything”. 42 years ago, on 24.04.1973, two events changed India: Birth of Sachin Tendulkar and “Pronouncement of ‘View of the Majority’ in Kesavananda“. Kesavananda Bench of 13 Judges was composed of CJ Sikri, Justices J.M. Shelat, K.S. Hegde, A.N. Grover, A.N. Ray, P. Jaganmohan Reddy, D.G. […]
Read more "The Dark Knight"My Lord, Paragraphs 13 & 14 in Today Homes and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. v. Ludhiana Improvement Trust, (2014) 5 SCC 68? “We are not concerned with the said issue as to whether what was held in Paragraph 13 of Today Homes and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. was correct or not when it makes reference to the […]
Read more "Today Homes and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd."The principle of ‘real likelihood of bias‘ has now taken a tilt to ‘real danger of bias’ and ‘suspicion of bias’ [(2004) 8 SCC 788]. Theatrics of Learned Senior Counsels? “Difficult to say for sure. But deep within, don’t we all understand” [(2014) 8 SCC 470]. No one can suppose, Hon’ble Justice Dave could be, […]
Read more "Recusants"In (2014) 6 SCC 173, Hon’ble Justice T.S. Thakur observed, “cynical Chalta Hai Attitude… more often than not costs society dearly in man-made tragedies.” The man in question is Mr. Sushil Ansal. On 07.08.2011, Mr. Ansal had his book “Brick by Brick” unveiled by Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur at a glittering ceremony held at Rambagh Palace, Jaipur. […]
Read more "Referred to Larger Bench III: The Chalta Hai Attitude"“As has been stated by us above, ‘means’ ‘and includes’ is a legislative device by which the ‘includes’ part brings by way of extension various persons, categories, or things which would not otherwise have been included in the ‘means’ part. If this is so, obviously both parts cannot be read conjunctively. What is in the […]
Read more "A “Means and Includes” Definition II"Can a truly blasphemous libel escape criminal action? Former Hon’ble Chief Justice of India A.S. Anand was attacked once as regards his true age. Mr. Ram Jethmalani had no little role to play in that debate. Shall SC feel safe for itself, even if it does for all else? This one shall stand Referred to […]
Read more "Section 499, Indian Penal Code I"
The Last Word 
You must be logged in to post a comment.