Crafting Justice: Supreme Court Justice encourages judicial officers to pen judgments as compelling as fiction

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, February 17

In a clear-cut departure from the traditional norms of legal writing involving dry, technical language, Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court on Saturday advised more than a 100 judicial officers to craft judgments with the narrative allure of a fiction.

“The art of writing judgments is something like fiction writing. Think of yourself as a fiction writer and start the narration of facts. Even a layman, a person who has nothing to do with the case, will develop an interest that what has been written by the Judge and I must read and find out what actual conclusions he has finally reached,” Justice Surya Kant asserted.

Speaking at the valedictory function at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy on the completion of one-year induction training programme of 101 judicial officers from the State of Haryana, Justice Surya Kant asked them to use simple language, give definite findings and spell out not just the relief granted, but also denied, while making it clear that the use of judicial mind in reaching the conclusions must find a reflection in the judgments for better understanding of the appellant courts.

Justice Surya Kant also came out with golden principles to be followed by the judicial officers in their day-to-day functioning, including compassion, competence, integrity and impartiality. They were also asked to log on to a system of artificial intelligence.

Justice Surya Kant asserted: “Imbibe technology and artificial intelligence. They will help you a lot. The Supreme Court, the high courts, and the government of India, have been very liberal in providing the technical advancement. All kinds of possible facilities are available.  We are working very actively in providing the assistance of artificial intelligence that can really help you a lot”.

Justice Surya Kant also made it clear to the judicial officers that they were not occupying a seat of power, but a position of responsibility. “It is duty to the society… Always remember, you do not hold any power. The power, whatever you feel, is a duty to enforce the rule of law, duty to ensure good governance, duty to do justice”.

Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Patron-in-Chief of Chandigarh Judicial Academy, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, added his perspective, urging judicial officers to maintain a disciplined life, stay updated on case laws regularly, and instill faith in the institution’s capacity to discharge its functions.  “Anger control and management is also important as decisions taken in haste would come back to haunt you,” Justice Sandhawalia asserted.  Also present at the occasion were Justice Sudhir Singh, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj of the high court.