Mumbai Book Launch Sparks Debate On Judicial Independence And Erosion Of Democratic Institutions

Mumbai hosted a book launch on October 24, 2026, for "A Controversial Judge: And Some of His Most Controversial Judgements" authored by senior journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Ayaskant Das. The event brought together lawyers and journalists to discuss the state of judicial independence and the erosion of democratic institutions in India.

Senior advocate Aspi Chinoy expressed deep concern over the state of constitutional protections, stating that "Constitutional freedoms have been hollowed out. They mean very little, and when you want their protection, very few will be able to help." He alleged that courts had increasingly become "enablers or facilitators" of government power rather than guardians of citizens' rights.

Journalist Lekha Rattnani echoed similar sentiments, claiming that "The smell of the place has changed," alleging that authorities were quashing dissent. Gurbir Singh, another journalist, expanded the scope of the debate, stating that the erosion of democratic institutions was not limited to the judiciary.

Senior advocate Satish Maneshinde cautioned against attributing all systemic problems to a single judge, noting that significant rulings were often made by multi-judge benches. He acknowledged that executive attempts to influence the judiciary were not new, dating back to the Emergency. However, Maneshinde argued that while there was erosion of morality within the judiciary, it was a widespread issue in all aspects of life.