The judiciary, specially the Supreme Court, is a much respected and admired institution in our country. We, as a nation, are so proud of it that we dislike even questioning its set-up and working, even though many of us know that its functioning is far from ideal. We like to believe that the Supreme Court is a haloed temple of justice with judges being its erudite high priests. Proclivity to be over-questioning or over-critical of the courts in general and the Supreme Court in particular is also curbed by the salutary effect of the provisions for contempt of courts! So, on both measures—carrot and stick—we believe, like to believe, are conditioned to believe and fear believing otherwise, that the wisdom and integrity of the court and its judges are beyond reproach.
It is in this background that the recent press conference by four senior-most Supreme Court judges came as a huge shock to everyone. The common man, not over-acquainted with the working of the judiciary, was plainly rattled to see the self-generated halo around the Supreme...
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