Beyond courtrooms: When judges’ words travel from lecture halls to viral clips

In recent years, the words of judges have been spreading beyond the confines of courtrooms, appearing in university convocations, memorial lectures, conferences, and public events. They are even making their way to social media feeds and national headlines. When a sitting or retired judge speaks, their remarks can quickly become the focal point of online debates.

Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan recently defended the right of students to express differing views from those in positions of authority. At the LLM convocation of the National Law University, Delhi, he emphasized that questioning the government is an essential part of citizenship and not an act of defiance. Similarly, Justice B V Nagarathna highlighted the importance of Bar Councils earning the respect of their members, warning that a Bar Council lacking respect is a sign of a flawed legal profession.

Justice Prasanna B Varale questioned the government's priorities while addressing a school event, stating that only a small fraction of the funds allocated for a specific event could have saved numerous schools from closure. He also shared his own experience of studying in regional-language schools, which helped broaden his perspective.

Justice Sanjay Karol reflected on what it means to be a judge in his farewell address, urging judges to recognize the human being behind every litigant. He emphasized that judges are not infallible and should look beyond the facts of a case to understand the full story. These speeches have resonated beyond the legal arena, sparking discussions on various issues such as dissent, protests, bail conditions, and more.

Former Supreme Court judge Sudhanshu Dhulia acknowledged the courage and appropriateness of Justice Bhuyan's comments, calling for restraint among judges to maintain their neutrality. Justice Bhuyan also questioned the opacity surrounding the decisions of the Supreme Court Collegium, emphasizing the need for transparency in judicial appointments.

Furthermore, Justice Joymalya Bagchi warned about the impact of 'Big Tech algorithms', misinformation, and social-media pressure on judicial independence during a symposium at the Supreme Court complex. These instances demonstrate the far-reaching impact of judges' words, as they transcend the courtroom and become part of broader public discourse.