A few weeks ago, I completed watching 'Better Call Saul,' and in that TV series, Chuck McGill imparts a crucial lesson to his brother, Jimmy McGill: "The law is sacred. If you abuse that power, people will get hurt." A corollary of this can be articulated as follows: Respect and uphold the law to protect and empower individuals and society. Both of these statements encapsulate the essence of this book.
As the name implies, "10 Judgments That Changed India," is a book that delves into ten landmark Supreme Court judgments that profoundly shaped Indian society.
Author Zia Mody navigates through some historical (post-independence) cases to explain the importance of - maintaining the basic structure and sanctity of the constitution, interpreting archaic laws with evolving times, engaging in judicial activism to address legislative vacuums, and ensuring the independence and coexistence of the judiciary from parliamentary powers to safeguard democracy.
The book delves into the nuances of each case, including the circumstances, the court's decision-making process, and the public reception during those times. All this information provides a holistic understanding of the evolution of laws that many of us presently enjoy and often take for granted.
Though the Supreme Court of India is one of the most powerful courts in the world, the author underscores that India's judicial system remains reactive rather than proactive. This is attributed to the labyrinthine structure of Indian society and the absence of a unified jurisprudence among the state, citizens, and judiciary.
Despite these challenges, optimism persists. Even when petitioners in certain cases find no relief, there is a silver lining - their efforts, no matter how small or trivial, plant seeds for future generations to reap. Posterity will benefit from the groundwork laid by those who sought justice, reinforcing the common man's expectation that the highest court of the land will indeed deliver justice, effectively if not immediately!
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