Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday praised Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for his courtroom-themed writings, saying that reading his two newly-launched books felt “like binging into a courtroom drama which incidentally wanders into a stand-up special”.
The remarks were made during the launch of Mehta’s books — The Bench, the Bar, & the Bizarre and The Lawful and the Awful — at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and members of the legal fraternity.
Speaking at the event, CJI Surya Kant said Mehta had vividly captured the drama, humour and human side of courtrooms through his writing. “Everything from dress code, disasters, to AI hallucinations in judgments and pleadings. He has even covered drunk and disorderly conduct,” the Chief Justice of India said, adding that the books combined comic timing with extensive research.
“The beauty of these books lies not only in their comic timing but also in the sheer depth of research that went into all their jest. He presents baffled witnesses, judges with a flair for the dramatic and lawyers caught in the crossfire of their own hysterical missteps,” he added.
The Chief Justice also remarked on the demanding nature of Mehta’s profession, saying lawyers spend their days in courts and evenings reading briefs, joking that the Solicitor General must have “borrowed a 25th hour from God” to produce such detailed work.
Drawing laughter from the audience, CJI Surya Kant narrated several anecdotes from courtrooms, including one involving a frustrated lawyer storming out after arguments, only to be called back by the judge and told: “In this gathering, you will have to return again and again, so recognise these walls and doors carefully”.
He said courtrooms were a blend of theatre and law where “everyone is a hero”, adding that Mehta’s writing reminded readers that the law was not just about orders and judgments, but also about humour and human emotion.
“Justice may be blind, but it has a tremendous sense of humour,” the CJI said, praising Mehta’s storytelling and “comic brilliance”.
Meanwile, Amit Shah also congratulated Mehta and praise his decision to launch the books on Mother’s Day.
“He has dedicated this book to his mother… The fact that he chose to hold the launch of this book today, on Mother’s Day, is a deeply symbolic and truly beautiful gesture. Although here in India, every single day is Mother’s Day,” Shah said.
Futhermore, the Home Minister also said that Mehra’s book was a work of an inquisitive mind
“The Bench, the Bar, & the Bizarre, this book presents itself as the work of an inquisitive mind. Through concrete examples, it elucidates the nature of the challenges that the judiciary is poised to face in the future regarding AI and modern technologies. With the advent of technology comes its inevitable utilisation; and should it be utilised, this book has very effectively placed before us the potential consequences,” he concluded.
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