Bengaluru: Dangers to judiciary also from within: Arun Shourie

Bengaluru: Discussions around the Indian Judiciary were the mainstay during the release of ‘Anita Gets Bail’ by well known scholar, author, former editor and minister Arun Shourie on Saturday evening in the City.

The book published by Harper Collins was released by former Chief Justice of India Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah in the presence of special invitees - former Lokayukta and judge if Supreme Court Justice Santosh Hegde and eminent lawyer B.V. Acharya.

Shourie in his inimitable way spoke about the deterioration in the judiciary and said that the danger to the last standing institution in the Indian democracy was as much from outside as it was from within and was reflective of the growing infirmities in society.

Justice Hegde earlier said that the institutional deterioration was not just limited to judiciary but also other institutions including media and the blame rested with the society and the downfall of moral values. “Today society celebrates and welcomes a man, who has been released from jail,” he said.

On a positive note Justice Hegde said that while a lot needs to done to restore the image of the judiciary one must not forget the innumerable landmark judgments that have saved the day for the Indian democracy. 

‘Anita Gets Bail’ takes after the non-bailable warrant that was issued to  Shourie’s ailing wife Anita, for evading summons that were never served for ostensibly building a house that was never built on a plot that was never theirs.

The book enumerates various judgments and talks about judges who “disregard well settled principles to such an extent that their colleagues are compelled to make their misgivings public.” The book release was organised by ‘Manthan’ - the Bengaluru chapter of Hyderabad-based initiative to hold talks and lectures by intellectuals and well known public figures on issues of national interest. 

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murty were also present.