CJI reminds lawyers to be non-partisan

Brut India

Ahead of India’s general elections, the Chief Justice stressed the importance of lawyers’ conduct outside the court. He was speaking during the centenary year celebration of the High Court Bar Association of Nagpur.

Transcript

00:00To quote Aristotle, human beings are political animals. Lawyers are no exception.

00:06However, for members of the Bar, one's highest loyalty must not lie with partisan interests,

00:12but to the Court and the Constitution. Of late, I have been very disturbed by the tendency

00:18of members of Bar associations to comment on cases which are pending before the Court.

00:30In a vibrant and argumentative democracy like ours, most individuals have a political ideology

00:42or inclination. To quote Aristotle, human beings are political animals. Lawyers are no exception.

00:51However, for members of the Bar, one's highest loyalty must not lie with partisan interests,

00:57but to the Court and the Constitution.

00:59Judgements of our constitutional courts are the culmination of rigorous proceedings,

01:05thorough legal analysis, and a commitment to constitutional principle.

01:10But once the judgement is pronounced, it is public property. As an institution,

01:16our shoulders are broad. We stand ready to receive both praise and criticism,

01:22bouquets and brick bags, be it through journalistic pieces, political commentary,

01:28or on the social media. But as members and office-bearers of Bar associations,

01:34with years of training and experience, you must distinguish yourself from the layperson

01:41while reacting to judgments of the Court and engaging in legal discussion.

01:46Of late, I have been very disturbed by the tendency of members of Bar associations to

01:51comment on cases which are pending before the Court and of commenting on judgments delivered

01:56by the Court. You are first and foremost officers of the Court, and the dignity and

02:02truth in our legal discourse is in your hands. As members of the Bar, it is incumbent upon you to

02:09communicate the judgments of the Court to the public, utilising platforms such as opinion

02:14pieces in newspapers, media appearances, and public lectures. In this sense, the Bar has the

02:22potential to act as a bridge between the Court and the citizens. I must also highlight the importance

02:27of having an independent Bar and, as a result, independent Bar associations. The judiciary has

02:34time and again risen to the occasion to assert its independence and non-partisanship, a separation

02:40of powers from the executive, the legislature and vested political interests. In fulfilling

02:45your role, the Bar can effectively translate complex legal concepts and precedents into

02:53accessible language for the public, fostering a deeper understanding of our constitutional values

02:59and the true purport of our judgments.

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