Is India’s Justice System Failing? Dr. Anand Ranganathan Speaks | Mic Open with Sanya Talwar

In this episode of Mic Open, Off The Record, Dr. Anand Ranganathan joins Sanya Talwar for a candid conversation on the state of India’s justice system. From the staggering backlog of 54 million pending cases to the debate around the collegium system and judicial appointments, Ranganathan argues that justice remains India’s most important yet most neglected institution. He speaks about: • Judicial pendency and court vacations • Why judges appointing judges raises concerns • Free speech absolutism and its limits • Contempt law and whether it should be repealed • The role of constitutional morality and judicial courage • Ambedkar, reform, and ideological pressures in law Calling justice “the greatest invention of humanity,” Ranganathan makes the case that India must urgently rethink how its legal system functions. This episode of Mic Open, Off The Record is a wide-ranging discussion on accountability, institutional reform, and the future of the judiciary. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction – Dr. Anand Ranganathan on Mic Open: Off the Record 2:17 Why Law Should Be Treated Like a Scientific Discipline 4:46 “Justice Is Humanity’s Greatest Invention” – Philosophical View 7:00 India’s Judicial Crisis: 5.4 Crore Pending Cases & Judge Shortage 9:26 Court Vacations, Vacancies & Why Justice Delivery Is Failing 11:53 Judicial Accountability: Are Judges Shielded from Scrutiny? 14:04 The Collegium System – Why Judges Appointing Judges Is Problematic 16:40 Nepotism in the Judiciary & The Case for Merit-Based Selection 18:54 Political Interference in Judicial Appointments – Historical Examples 21:15 Religious Double Standards in Court Decisions 23:40 Sabarimala Debate: Faith vs Equality in Constitutional Law 25:55 Shah Bano Case & Vote Bank Politics in Legal Decisions 28:09 Menstruation, Religion & Constitutional Rights 30:42 Judicial Consistency and Selective Intervention in Religious Practices 32:57 Ambedkar, Social Reform & Selective Quoting in Public Discourse 35:14 Free Speech Absolutism – Where Should the Limits Be? 37:45 Hate Speech, Blasphemy Laws & Judicial Interpretation 39:46 Constitutional Morality vs Democratic Will 42:17 Judicial Activism vs Judicial Restraint 44:59 Contempt of Court Laws – Reform or Repeal? 46:00 Media, Protests & Public Debate on the Judiciary 47:00 Closing Remarks