The People’s Devil’s Advocate is compelled to address the Court as “My Lord” and “Your Lordship.” In this forced reverence, a great gulf emerges between the Bar and the Bench. What was once a gesture of respect has turned into a symbol of subservience. “Lordship” has become a creature of ego, and justice — once the right of every citizen — has been reduced to a favour bestowed at the discretion of those seated on high.
The advocate, who stands as an agent of justice and a guardian of constitutional truth, is reduced to a petitioner of mercy. In the temple of law, he must beg for blessings instead of asserting rights. His arguments are not always judged by reason but by the mood of the “Lord” who presides. And if he dares to question, or refuses to bend before arbitrary command, he is swiftly branded a rebel — a victim of the sacred weapon called Criminal Contempt.
Such a culture of unquestionable obedience has transformed the language of justice into the language of domination. The Bench, which should embody humility and accountability, has grown distant from the people it serves. Judicial authority, meant to safeguard liberty, now risks being perceived as feudal privilege. The court hall, once a sanctuary of equality, has become a theatre of hierarchy.
True justice cannot flourish where fear silences truth. The robe does not sanctify the ego; it signifies duty. The gavel should not thunder over voices — it should echo reason. Leadership in justice must emerge not from the arrogance of titles, but from the strength of conscience.
The time has come to move from Lordship to Leadership — from ritual to responsibility, from command to compassion. When the judiciary sheds the illusion of divine status and embraces the humility of public service, only then will the citizen’s faith in justice be truly restored.
Today’s Tilted Justce Sytem Voice of Public for PUBLIC INTEREST BY Ad. Anil Bugde, High Court Bombay.
