Attorney general lauds Tushar Mehta's books for offering rare insights into justice delivery

Attorney General R Venkataramani on Sunday praised Solicitor General Tushar Mehtas two newly released books, saying they offer a rare and insightful glimpse into the hidden dimensions of justice delivery. Speaking at the launch of Mehtas books The Bench, the Bar and the Bizarre and The Lawful and the Awful at the Bharat Mandapam here, Venkataramani described the works as much more than collections of courtroom anecdotes.

Attorney General R Venkataramani on Sunday praised Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's two newly released books, saying they offer a rare and insightful glimpse into the ''hidden dimensions'' of justice delivery. Speaking at the launch of Mehta's books – 'The Bench, the Bar and the Bizarre' and 'The Lawful and the Awful' – at the Bharat Mandapam here, Venkataramani described the works as much more than collections of courtroom anecdotes. ''I wonder how studiously and courageously Tushar Bhai has blended facets deeply relevant for understanding the hidden dimensions of doing justice,'' the attorney general said. ''He has carefully chronicled stories of law and justice while offering peeks into human nature in both its exalted and ridiculous manifestations,'' he said. Calling the titles ''deceptive'', Venkataramani said the books go far beyond humour or light storytelling and are rooted in Mehta's vast legal experience and sharp understanding of judicial functioning. Besides Mehta and Venkataramani, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also addressed the gathering. Venkataramani, the country's top law officer, said that every story in the two books is couched in respectful but revealing simple prose, depicting dramatic personalities, happenings and judicial adventures across courtrooms. ''The books invite us to ponder how human nature and how its invisible callings, promptings and appeals impact the business of doing justice. Every chapter heading in both the books hides more than what it intends to share, and the witty exteriors of the stories do not end with wit, satire or humour but are laced with simple and straightforward intervening comments,'' the attorney general said. ''Tushar Bhai rightly believes that plain speaking is the best art, not only of skilful advocacy, but also of ethics. Every writer, whether small or renowned, stands like a mother wishing to look upon that child of creation with fondness and affection, and it has to be so much like every time a judgment is read in court, though judges may claim detachment, they remain attached to the contribution they have made to law and justice,'' he added. Venkataramani said that a writer assumes a new avatar after begetting worthy books, and Mehta has joined the illustrious club of renowned writers in the field of law. Speaking about the books, Mehta said, ''There is a particular peculiarity in being an advocate and publishing books on the lighter side of law. It feels rather like a surgeon writing humorously about his own operation theatre.'' Noting that the books were not a treatise, nor a critique of any particular subject of law, Mehta said, ''I have not even pretended to be scholarly while writing the books, the infection which infects almost everyone on this side of the bar. What is this? What are these two books? It is quite simple. They are a collection of true stories. Nothing is imaginary or fictional.'' ''Since I am practising in India and intend to do so for some years hereafter, I have chosen not to include any instance of Indian court, Indian judge or Indian judgment. ''I just gathered some incidents which would be very, very interesting for all of us to learn from across the law, from across the jurisdictions on various subjects, various proponents, and various ways of dealing with those subjects,'' the solicitor general said.