Justice Basant was speaking at a event titled “Conversations on Justice” organized in honour of Justice S Ravindra Bhat by his family and friends at the India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi on October 18.
The influence of the media significantly impacts the performance of judges in the contemporary landscape, as stated by Senior Advocate and former Kerala High Court Justice R Basant.
Justice Basant referenced the judicial oath that binds judges to carry out their duties without fear or favor. He emphasized, “The fear of media has a substantial bearing on a judge’s performance,” and he further noted that media scrutiny poses a professional challenge for judges.
Presently practicing before the Supreme Court, Justice Basant pointed out that legal matters are frequently discussed on television even before a judgment is delivered. “A verdict is pronounced today, and by the time one leaves the courtroom, discussions are already underway. This has become an inherent aspect of the profession,” he remarked.
These observations were made during an event titled “Conversations on Justice,” hosted at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in New Delhi to honor Justice S Ravindra Bhat. The event was attended by family, colleagues, and former law clerks and was moderated by senior advocate Raju Ramachandran and advocate Malvika Prasad, with the presence of Justices UU Lalit, Mukta Gupta, S Muralidhar, and Badar Ahmed.
Justice Basant asserted the necessity for “judges with unwavering resilience” who can withstand media scrutiny, including the pressure from social media. He expressed concern about judges being preoccupied with anticipating tomorrow’s headlines when delivering verdicts, which he regarded as unfortunate.
Reflecting on his early days in the judiciary in 1988, he couldn’t have foreseen the level of allegations made today, even against the Chief Justices of India, that could apply to “an ordinary junior division judge of the locality.” However, he acknowledged that the judiciary also shares responsibility for this trend, recognizing a gradual erosion of the integrity and righteousness associated with judges.
Justice Basant held both the media and the judiciary accountable for these developments. He stressed that given the non-majoritarian nature of the judicial institution, judges must possess robust resilience to withstand media pressures and remain undeterred. He emphasized the importance of disregarding public opinions about judges and their decisions, emphasizing that media scrutiny should not be equated with accountability.
