What's next, Mr Katju?

Justice Katju's emotional reaction to Sanjay Dutt's imprisonment suits an actor

They say emotions, drama and theatrics are for actors. Courts and judges usually do not get swayed by them: they need evidence. But when someone who has spent a good number of years as a judge in the Supreme Court of India starts getting emotional and sentimental over court judgments, it does come as a surprise. Maybe it's time for the judge, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markendey Katju, to think about what more he could do with his life besides doing the mundane and boring job of governing the conduct of Indian media.

Following the Supreme Court upholding yesterday the sentencing of film star Sanjay Dutt to five-year imprisonment by a TADA court in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, Katju appealed to Maharashtra Governor K Sankarnarayanan to pardon the actor.

In a statement, Katju has sought pardon for Dutt, saying the actor had not been found guilty of having played a role in the 1993 blasts and had "suffered a lot".

Katju said the court found that Dutt had in his possession a prohibited weapon without a licence, for which the law should award him a punishment of not less than five years in imprisonment. However, as per the law the Governor can reduce or pardon the person convicted for the crime.

Why are you talking about forgiveness, Justice Katju? Should the actor be pardoned just because he is a famous personality and has acted in movies that became hits on box office? He cannot and should not be granted pardon because you think that he "revived the memory of Mahatma Gandhi through his films”. Such gooey and mawkishly sentimental opinions do not suit a judge of your standing.

Now, guess who will play the role of "Circuit" in Katjubhai MBBS. It's Manish Tewari, Union I&B Minister. Why is he suitable for the role? Simple hai, mamu. He agreed with Justice Katju in letter and spirit. Why this smirk on your face? Isn't this what Circuit is supposed to do? So, Circuit has said the government would take his statement into congnisance.

 

The precise Circuit-speak was: "Whenever Justice Katju articulates a position on a certain issue, people both inside and outside the government listen to it very seriously; but there are various aspects to this issue. And I am sure that those people within government, whether at the state government-level or at the level of various other instrumentalities of government who are seized with the responsibility of dealing with this issue would take that statement into cognisance and then if required formulate an appropriate response."

Tewari himself is an eminent Supreme Court lawyer, and he too usually agrees the court's head-over-heart rules. But he has chosen to ignore them in Sanjay Dutt's case. Why, you mak ask. Isn't it obvious, mamu? Tewari wants to secure a role in Katjubhai MBBS because he has strong competition from Mulayam Singh and Sharad Pawar. Heard their parties too have backed Katju's emotional appeal.