A Former Judge’s Disagreement with the Public Narrative
- An Invitation to Debate, Not to Shout
- Silence from Critics
- Media Trials Versus Judicial Process
- Sensation Sells, Law Does Not
Justice Markandey Katju defends the Delhi High Court’s order in the Sengar case, questioning media sensationalism and the decline of balanced journalism.
The order of the Delhi High Court in Sengar's case
By Justice Markandey Katju
I sent the following email to Mehmood Pracha, advocate for the victim in the Sengar case :
''Dear Mr Pracha
I have heard your views on the Sengar case on youtube.
With respect, I am of the opinion that the order of the Delhi High Court dated 23.12.2025 is correct, and your view is wrong. Please see this link and video in which I have expressed my view.
If you agree, we can have an online debate on any channel you wish whenever you like on this issue
Regards
Justice Katju
Delhi
27.12.2025 ''
As yet I have not received any reply from him.
I also sent this email to Yogita Bhayana, who is leading the agitation against the order of the Delhi High Court :
''Dear Yogita
I have heard your views on the Sengar case on YouTube
With respect, I am of the opinion that the order of the Delhi High Court is correct, and your view is wrong. Please see this link and video in which I have expressed my view.
https://youtu.be/H5qRe7R5fJI
If you agree, we can have an online debate on any channel you wish whenever you like on this issue.
Regards
Justice Katju
Delhi
27.12.2025 ''
As yet Yogita has not sent me any reply
I also sent this email to several well known mediapersons who were vociferously criticising the Delhi High Court order on their TV channels and/or Youtube :
'' Dear sir,
I hope this finds you well.
I heard you on TV/ Youtube strongly criticising the Delhi High Court order in Sengar's case.
In my opinion the order of the High Court is perfectly correct.
If you wish, I can appear on one of your shows to explain my point
Regards
Justice Katju
Former Judge of the Supreme Court
Delhi
************** ''
None of them replied
It seems to me these mediapersons are only interested in making money by peddling 'mirch masaala' to the public to increase TRP and circulation, and have scant regard for the truth.
A journalist should be neutral and objective, and present both viewpoints, but it seems nowadays the Indian mediapersons only follow the principle in the song '' Sabse bada rupaiya, na bibi na maiyya ''
Saying that the Delhi High Court order is correct does not create a sensation, but saying that it is terrible creates a lot of 'mirch masaala'. No wonder that our mediapersons only opt for the latter!
As regards Mehmood Pracha and Yogita Bhayana, good luck to them.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
