CIVIL LIBERTIES-Justice in Secrecy


CIVIL LIBERTIES Justice in Secrecy?
ON March 4, the Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice Y V Chandrachud, rang down the curtain on the episode arising out of the contemptible statement of five lawyers. He, however, lifted at the same time the veil of secrecy in which he had made that document to lie shrouded for a whole week; though its ugly features were covered, its stench spread freely. An issue concerning the freedom of the press was promptly raised and was resolved along with the main crisis but only momentarily. It can arise again and it is but right that this issue, which is of capital importance, is debated and resolved finally and satisfactorily, quite irrespective of the facts of the recent case. The Chief Justice was undoubtedly inspired throughout by a most laudable motive, namely, to uphold the dignity of the court; certainly by no desire to curtail the freedom of the press. It was, as he said, an "extempore direction" and was couched in terms that freely won rather than commanded compliance