Former Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph has recently voiced his opinion that the Supreme Court’s motto, “यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः” (Where there is Dharma, there is victory), should be discarded. Justice Joseph argues that the concept of Dharma, as defined within Hinduism, does not always align with truth and therefore, isn’t suitable to be the motto of the Indian Constitution. He emphasized, “The truth is the Constitution, Dharma – not always.” This divergence becomes more apparent when compared to the motto “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs), adopted by all High Courts across the nation.
Speaking at an event organized by activists and the controversial website “The Wire,” Justice Joseph highlighted his objections to the inclusion of the shloka from the Hindu epic Mahabharata in the Supreme Court’s motto. His previous comparison of the Catholic Church with the Preamble adds weight to his stance. Advocating for the motto’s removal, the retired judge, who left the apex court in 2018, urged the Chief Justice of India to seriously consider this proposal. He believes that embracing a Hindu shloka like this significantly influences the Supreme Court’s approach to dispensing justice.
Although Justice Joseph was addressing the topic “Supreme Court administration and management- Issues and concerns,” he didn’t shy away from criticizing the media’s role, accusing it of neglecting its duty and contributing to the nation’s bleak outlook.
