Deliver justice, not just judgments, says Meghwal to judicial officers

The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal, on Wednesday urged newly inducted judicial officers to pause and weigh their decisions, emphasising that the judiciary’s role was not limited to delivering judgments but to dispensing justice grounded in empathy, balance and awareness.

Addressing a gathering at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy during the culmination of a one-year induction training programme for Punjab’s judicial officers, Meghwal illustrated his point through sharp anecdotes that highlighted the critical difference between judgment and justice and the risks of mechanical decision-making.

Lauding the fact that 96 out of 137 judicial officers in the current batch are women, Meghwal said the judiciary was moving in a progressive direction and needed to reflect compassion and clarity in its functioning.

In a striking example, he narrated a Japanese courtroom story where a wealthy man played the national anthem on a gramophone to immobilise a thief trying to escape his house — the thief stood still out of respect. Yet, the judge sentenced the man to two years in prison for misusing the anthem. “Justice prevailed over judgment,” said Meghwal, asserting that the judge’s decision reflected a deeper allegiance to constitutional values rather than personal morality or cleverness.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Rajesh Bindal reminded officers to always carry the blessings of their parents and teachers. “They remain with you throughout life. They won’t like it if you go wrong — remember that,” he said. Urging young judges to remain anchored in values, he warned against the perils of superficial learning in the digital age.