The real-life experiences and satisfaction that a criminal lawyer achieves cannot perhaps be matched by a civil or a constitutional lawyer, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said on Thursday..However, despite its importance, the CJI noted that many young lawyers tend to avoid criminal law as a career choice. He shared a memorable experience while serving as an Additional Public Prosecutor in the Delhi High Court when a convict personally came to thank him after he had appeared as Amicus Curiae in the matter."As Additional Public Prosecutor in the Delhi High Court, I defended the State and also appeared as Amicus Curiae in some cases for convicts. I was once surprised when a convict came to my house and said 'thank you'. That was an experience which left me satisfied. That is what a criminal lawyer earns, which you perhaps cannot earn as a civil lawyer or even as a constitutional lawyer," he reminisced. .Pertinently, the CJI stressed on the need for data-driven approaches in criminal law, arguing that empirical analysis should play a greater role in shaping jurisprudence.“The principle of proportionality, which we have applied many times in Constitution Benches, is primarily based on data and empirical evidence. This is something which is not being taught in law schools. Criminal jurisprudence, I believe should not rely on untested assertions about behavior and social dynamics. It will rely on empirical data. The data exists. The data speaks. The analytical tools exist. What we need to is to let evidence drive our criminal law forward," he added..I was once surprised when a convict came to my house and said 'thank you'. That was an experience which left me satisfied.CJI Sanjiv Khanna.The CJI was speaking at the launch of “Ratanlal & Dhirajlal's Law of Crimes: A Comprehensive Commentary on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023” edited by former Chief Justice of India Justice UU Lalit.The event took place in the presence of Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya..In his speech, the CJI expressed concern that most new entrants in the legal profession do not prioritize criminal law, even though a substantial portion of district court litigation revolves around it. He urged young lawyers to recognize its significance and consider it as a first-choice specialization rather than a fallback option."We should not ignore the importance of criminal law. I hope and trust many youngsters will gradually join criminal law as a first choice, rather than as a compulsion," he noted..We should not ignore the importance of criminal law. I hope and trust many youngsters will gradually join criminal law as a first choice, rather than as a compulsionChief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.CJI Khanna lauded the efforts of Justice Lalit in authoring the seminal work. He described Justice Lalit as “one of India's leading criminal law experts” whose career has spanned advocacy and adjudication at the highest levels.“There is hardly a political party or leader he has not represented, or even as a prosecutor, he has prosecuted political leaders. He belongs to that rare category of legal minds who excel equally as advocates, scholars, and jurists,” the CJI remarked..He also underlined the continued relevance of legal commentaries despite the proliferation of online legal databases. He added that physical textbooks are fundamental for lawyers and law students, and indispensable for judges. Commentaries, in particular, provide unparalleled depth, comprehensiveness, and a complete perspective on the law."Some might suggest that in today's digital era, with its instant access to cases and statutes, comprehensive commentaries have become less essential. I beg to disagree. It is precisely the opposite. Perhaps we need commentaries more these days because online tools just throw up case laws. If you see, the judges that we rely on also rely on commentaries. So why not go to the basics, that is commentaries? "he asked.
The real-life experiences and satisfaction that a criminal lawyer achieves cannot perhaps be matched by a civil or a constitutional lawyer, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said on Thursday..However, despite its importance, the CJI noted that many young lawyers tend to avoid criminal law as a career choice. He shared a memorable experience while serving as an Additional Public Prosecutor in the Delhi High Court when a convict personally came to thank him after he had appeared as Amicus Curiae in the matter."As Additional Public Prosecutor in the Delhi High Court, I defended the State and also appeared as Amicus Curiae in some cases for convicts. I was once surprised when a convict came to my house and said 'thank you'. That was an experience which left me satisfied. That is what a criminal lawyer earns, which you perhaps cannot earn as a civil lawyer or even as a constitutional lawyer," he reminisced. .Pertinently, the CJI stressed on the need for data-driven approaches in criminal law, arguing that empirical analysis should play a greater role in shaping jurisprudence.“The principle of proportionality, which we have applied many times in Constitution Benches, is primarily based on data and empirical evidence. This is something which is not being taught in law schools. Criminal jurisprudence, I believe should not rely on untested assertions about behavior and social dynamics. It will rely on empirical data. The data exists. The data speaks. The analytical tools exist. What we need to is to let evidence drive our criminal law forward," he added..I was once surprised when a convict came to my house and said 'thank you'. That was an experience which left me satisfied.CJI Sanjiv Khanna.The CJI was speaking at the launch of “Ratanlal & Dhirajlal's Law of Crimes: A Comprehensive Commentary on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023” edited by former Chief Justice of India Justice UU Lalit.The event took place in the presence of Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya..In his speech, the CJI expressed concern that most new entrants in the legal profession do not prioritize criminal law, even though a substantial portion of district court litigation revolves around it. He urged young lawyers to recognize its significance and consider it as a first-choice specialization rather than a fallback option."We should not ignore the importance of criminal law. I hope and trust many youngsters will gradually join criminal law as a first choice, rather than as a compulsion," he noted..We should not ignore the importance of criminal law. I hope and trust many youngsters will gradually join criminal law as a first choice, rather than as a compulsionChief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.CJI Khanna lauded the efforts of Justice Lalit in authoring the seminal work. He described Justice Lalit as “one of India's leading criminal law experts” whose career has spanned advocacy and adjudication at the highest levels.“There is hardly a political party or leader he has not represented, or even as a prosecutor, he has prosecuted political leaders. He belongs to that rare category of legal minds who excel equally as advocates, scholars, and jurists,” the CJI remarked..He also underlined the continued relevance of legal commentaries despite the proliferation of online legal databases. He added that physical textbooks are fundamental for lawyers and law students, and indispensable for judges. Commentaries, in particular, provide unparalleled depth, comprehensiveness, and a complete perspective on the law."Some might suggest that in today's digital era, with its instant access to cases and statutes, comprehensive commentaries have become less essential. I beg to disagree. It is precisely the opposite. Perhaps we need commentaries more these days because online tools just throw up case laws. If you see, the judges that we rely on also rely on commentaries. So why not go to the basics, that is commentaries? "he asked.
