Thikc Skin, Not Thin Cases: Supreme Court Asks Politicians To Grow Up
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2025-09-09 07:34:34
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
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The Supreme Court yesterday sternly reminded politicians that political battles should not be brought to the court room. Politicians, the judges said, need to grow thicker skins and stop rushing to court every time their egos are bruised when an opponent says something they are offended with.
This message was overdue. In a democracy, stinging words, heated debates, and even strident criticism are normal as long as they are not hateful or indecent. Politics was never polite, not only in India but worldwide. In India, since 2014, it has become even more ugly. If the BJP is guilty of starting the trend to hit below the belt, the opposition is equally guilty of reciprocating in kind. If every jibe or insult turns into a legal battle, the courts end up drowning in cases that have little to do with justice and everything to do with bruised egos.
Over the years, politicians of all shades and levels have increasingly tried to weaponize the legal system as an extension of their fights. It wastes judicial time, distracts from the real issues citizens care about and leaves politicians will less time and energy to focus on the problems of the people.
Political debates must be fought with ideas, not affidavits. That is why the Supreme Court has asked politicians to develop thick skins. Since there is no bar on what is termed as 'unparliamentary' language outside the Parliament, there will be barbs and vile comments thrown about as long as civility is not a part of public discourse. By urging politicians to toughen up, the Court is pushing for a healthier political culture.
This does not mean the courts have no role. If speech crosses into hate or incitement, the law must step in. But the normal cut-and-thrust of politics, that includes taunts, exaggerations, even unkind words, should not concern the judiciary. All these are part of the messy and noisy process that keeps democracy alive.
Politics works best when people's representatives' spell out their ideas in rallies, legislatures, and public conversations and parties do the same in their manifestos, not in writs and affidavits. Politicians have to accept that criticism is the price of relevance. Only then will the courts be free from political theatrics and be able to focus on the justice that really matters.
