By Justice Markandey Katju
Francis Bacon, former Lord Chancellor of England said ''A much talking judge is like an ill tuned cymbal''.
Indian Supreme Court Judges talk too much in Court. The latest example is the hearing in Baba Ramdev's case. Why are the judges talking so much in Court? They should quietly hear the case and then decide whatever they want.
It is reported that the judges said that Ramdev's apology in the newspapers should be the same size as its advertisements. Where was the need for this pontification ?
.While in England a few years back I visited the High Court. There was pin-drop silence, the lawyer arguing in very low voice, and the judge quietly hearing the case. Occasionally the judge asked some question to counsel to clarify a point, but that was about all.
Indian judges too should learn to behave like that, instead of being garrulous. The atmosphere of the Court should be of serenity, tranquillity and calm.
Apart from that, judges should rarely attend public functions, and should be reclusive. Once one accepts judgership, he/she must sit at home in the evenings, instead of going out to parties, or giving lectures and homilies on freedom and democracy.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court. These are his personal views.)
