CJI emphasises book-reading instead of only using internet

Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today drew a distinction between study of books and getting information through the internet, saying youngsters could miss the opportunity to learn many other things if they solely concentrated on their laptops.
"Books remain relevant all the time and that's what I feel personally. Nowadays, youngsters are so fond of carrying laptops that they think they are carrying the universe in their bag.
"There is a problem... You can hit the bull's eye by going straight to a point you are looking for, but you are losing an opportunity to find many other things," he said at a function here.

Emphasising the relevance of books, Justice Thakur said "when you are looking for something in a book, you may stumble upon many others things or connected things or a new dimension which you may not have thought of."
The CJI also had a word of caution of lawyers saying though they had laptops, they too must have a taste for books.
"Now lawyers also have laptops but every lawyer must have a great taste for books and should be surrounded by books so that you get the atmosphere in which you feel like studying and drawing inspiration," he said while releasing a book authored by former Supreme Court judge B S Chauhan.

On a lighter vein, the CJI told Chauhan that he might have drawn inspiration from Justice Markandey Katju who was in the habit of taking notes and maintaining a diary. Katju was also present in the audience.

"We know about the kind of diary which he (Chauhan) was maintaining and I am sure he might have drawn inspiration from a visionary friend Justice Katju. .... I shared bench with Justice Katju for nearly eight months and when at times question of law arises, Justice Katju would take out a diary somewhat of 18th century (vintage)."
The CJI said "the lawyers would say 'Sir why don't you give us that diary and we will get it printed' but Katju Sahab was very possessive about that diary. And I think this habit of keeping a diary and making notes has been learnt from Justice Katju," the CJI said, evoking peals of laughter.

While Justice Thakur will retire on January 3 next,
Justice Khehar will have a brief eight-month tenure as the 44th CJI and would relinquish office on August 27 next.