- Hon’ble Chief Justice N V Ramana recently said that most people are unable to grasp the languages used in Courts
- He said that just like people do not understand the Mantras, most people have a similar mental block when they try to gauge the language of Courts
- CJI did not cite any credible data, survey or research about people’s understanding of Mantras, which makes his statement stand on thin ice
Modernity has taken a different route in India. While in most countries, culture and modernity are mostly integrated, in India, modernity has translated into total decoupling from traditions for a major chunk of Indians. That is why CJI Ramana’s reference to the Mantras did not draw much flak in the intelligentsia. However, the aware populace was quick to respond to it.
CJI Ramana in Chennai
On Saturday, 23rd April, NV Ramana, the current Chief Justice of India was in Chennai for laying the foundation stone for a nine-storeyed Administrative Block of the Madras High Court. In his speech after the event, CJI addressed some key problems miring the functioning of the Indian Judicial setup.
Hon’ble CJI acknowledged that maintaining people’s faith in Judiciary is the biggest challenge of the day. Apprising the country about his work towards maintaining Constitutional values, CJI said, “During the last one year of my tenure as the Chief Justice of India, I have been highlighting various issues affecting our legal system. The biggest issue affecting all institutions nowadays, including the judiciary is ensuring sustained faith in the eyes of the public. The judiciary is wrested with immense constitutional responsibility of maintaining the rule of law and checking legislative and executive excesses.”
CJI trying to sort out the language issue
The Chief Justice also addressed the issue of language hurdles in different Courts. He reemphasised the importance of introducing regional languages in High Courts. CJI said that it will make the litigation process easier for the litigants. The same demand has been raised by regional leaders in the past. Due to High Court Judges being appointed from the other states, English is the medium used for arguments, pleadings and submission.
Read more: The Ancient legal system championed by Acharya Chanakya and Maharishi Manu must be brought back
While describing the importance of local languages, CJI made a reference to Mantras. According to the Chief Justice of India, most people do not understand the words of Mantras being pronounced by Pandits. Comparing Chanting Mantras with the use of non-regional languages in Courts, CJI Ramana said, “The parties must understand the ongoing court process and the development of their case. It should not be like chanting mantras in a wedding, which most of us do not understand. From time to time, there have been demands from various regions to allow the use of local language in the proceedings before the high courts as provided for under Article 348 of the Constitution,”
“The common citizen of this country cannot understand the language of the court. The parties must understand the language used in the court. IT SHOULD NOT BE LIKE MANTRAS USED IN A WEDDING, WHICH MOST OF US DO NOT UNDERSTAND,” CJI Justice NV Ramana says pic.twitter.com/eB3evYP45i
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) April 23, 2022
Comment on Mantra draws flak
The reference to Mantras drew a vast swathe of criticism from social media.
One Krishnasutra expressed his disappointment over CJI’s comment. He said that it’s shameful that India’s sitting CJI does not know the meaning of Mantras.
Well it is shameful that dear Milord doesn’t know meaning of mantras . May be he should educate himself now and be a Berger informed Milord . https://t.co/nFRAM01YzG
— Krishnasutra (@Krishnasutra1) April 23, 2022
Shashank Shekhar Jha, a Supreme Court Lawyer opined that CJI does not represent the average Hindu. He further added that CJI should refrain from making such comparisons.
Sorry, but CJI doesn’t represent Hindus.
He may not remember the Mantras, but Hindus in general are aware about their Dharma and culture.
He must refrain from drawing such weird comparisons.
— Shashank Shekhar Jha (@shashank_ssj) April 23, 2022
Another user @Hindust73231409 expressed disappointment over the shaming of Hindu Mantras. He derided the fact that it is easy to call names and put blame on Hindus.
Seriously???? Again shaming our Hindus mantras? In Bharat it's so easy to call names and put blames on Hindus, their religion, their rituals, their way of life, even the holy mantras. Sorry to say, but we do understand our mantras.
— JAI BHARAT🇮🇳 (@Hindust73231409) April 23, 2022
Loads of other users also commented negatively about CJI’s opinion.
“The common citizen of this country cannot understand the language of the court. The parties must understand the language used in the court. IT SHOULD NOT BE LIKE MANTRAS USED IN A WEDDING, WHICH MOST OF US DO NOT UNDERSTAND,” CJI Justice NV Ramana says pic.twitter.com/eB3evYP45i
— LawBeat (@LawBeatInd) April 23, 2022
CJI sir – you would not have either understood had you not studied law. Did you study sanskrit? That's why you didnt understand mantras. Did your priest not explain? Courts are for citizens. Then why do you talk in a language that we don't understand? You are in public service
— lmaheswa (@lmaheswa) April 23, 2022
Chief Justice did not cite any evidence to prove his point
It may be true that the Chief Justice of India does not have a profound understanding of Mantras. However, it should not become a marker of his competence. Hon’ble Chief Justice is at his post because he has shown his competency in law. It is because of his authority over legal matters that he is sitting at the coveted post of being a Chief Justice at the Highest Court of Bharatvarsha.
However, the post also comes up with some special responsibilities. The fundamental aspect of being a legal professional is that you have to cite evidence to support your point. This is partially the reason why people take judges’ talks at face value. They have a firm belief that Judges must have their reasoning and in-depth knowledge about matters on which they are speaking.
It is here that the Hon’ble Chief Justice seems to have missed the mark. Last time we checked, there is no credible survey or research about the people’s understanding of Mantras in India. In that scenario, it was totally uncalled for on CJI’s part to present a few bad apples as a representative of the whole.
