NL Hafta

He talks to Madhu Trehan about the state of the Indian judiciary - of which his book is an account - press freedom and even the Ayodhya dispute. Arun Shourie is a former cabinet minister, journalist, author, activist and an important voice in the public sphere. His 27th book, Anita Gets Bail, is an account of and commentary on the state of the Indian judiciary. In an interview with Newslaundry, Shourie speaks to Madhu Trehan about the issues the legal system is grappling with today. Commending the efforts of Niranjan Takle, the Caravan journalist who wrote about the possible tampering with evidence in the probe into Justice Loya’s murder case, Shourie expresses distress over the case. On the transfer of the judge appointed to hear the Sohrabuddin Sheikh murder case and absenteeism of main accused Amit Shah, BJP president, from the hearing despite being summoned, he remarks: “The Supreme Court does nothing! It is their own order being violated, but (the Supreme Court remains) asleep, not asleep but looking the other way.” He further mentions points about the legal proceedings in the Loya case. “After the story is published by Caravan, the Bombay advocates’ association immediately files a petition in the high court saying there should be an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the death,” he says, adding: “And suddenly, two unknown petitioners turn up in the Supreme Court and suddenly the Supreme Court says, ‘Noo… no... no..., we'll hear it. Nobody else will hear the case’.” Madhu asks Shourie whether the departure of Smriti Irani from the I&B ministry, and the new minister’s comment that he won’t control the media, is a positive sign. He replies with a wonderful couplet: “Qaidi ka mann behlane ko, darbaan badalte jaate hain.” (To keep the prisoner engaged, gatekeepers are often changed.) On the speculation of possible mistakes that led to Irani’s departure, he says, “After all, Smriti Irani could not be issuing those instructions (and) circulars without clearance (from the PMO).”