"Courts cannot reform society alone, we must transform ourselves": Justice Muralidhar

A wide‑ranging discussion featuring Justice S. Muralidhar, noted jurist, author, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India. The conversation explores legal education, constitutional thinking, the evolution of the Indian bar, access to justice, and the role of young lawyers in a rapidly changing legal landscape. This session also touches on societal challenges, legal reform, and the importance of developing a grounded understanding of constitutional values. 00:00 Introduction to Justice S. Muralidhar 00:16 Career timeline: Bar, Bench, and return to Bar 01:19 Opening remarks on constitutional thinking 01:44 Public interest in courts and legal discourse 02:46 National Law Schools and impact on the profession 04:28 Section 377 and Sukanya Shanta case backstories 05:45 Divides within the legal profession 06:44 Challenges to liberties and the role of lawyers 07:31 AI governance vs communal litigation trends 08:41 Ambedkar and constitutional morality 10:00 Discrimination and social conditioning at home 13:39 Law versus practice: prisons and schools 15:36 Habeas corpus petitions and judicial approaches 18:14 Media, social change, and constitutional values 20:35 Human rights lawyering vs corporate law 21:51 Young lawyers and prison/death‑row work 25:30 The satisfaction of securing justice 26:24 Personal journey and unlearning bias 27:41 Early practice: drafting, legal services, pro bono 31:55 The “one judgment a day” discipline 33:52 How the bar recognizes talent and integrity 36:28 Why trial courts and tribunals matter 39:06 Learning courtroom practice by observation 41:56 Simplifying legal language for litigants #indianjudiciary #legaleducation #constitutionallaw Thank you for watching our video! You can subscribe to our channel here: https://bit.ly/3c8Adi6 Visit https://www.thehindu.com/ for the latest updates, analysis, opinions, and more. You can also download our apps: Android: https://bit.ly/3nboBEi iOs: https://apple.co/3EDCwt4 The Hindu is committed to keeping you up-to-date with information on the developments in India and the world. We promise to deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda. You can support us by subscribing to our digital offerings here: https://bit.ly/3emywiz Follow us: Twitter:   / the_hindu   Instagram:   / the_hindu