The Other Side of Justice: An Insider’s View of Indian Judicial System

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A no-holds-barred narrative—perhaps the first of its kind—that brings to life the edifying and not-so-edifying realities of India’s ‘temples of justice’.

In February 1994, Justice S. S. Sodhi was transferred from the Punjab and Haryana High Court following a run-in with the then chief minister of Haryana. Sent to Allahabad in what was widely regarded as a ‘punishment posting’—one many of his contemporaries carefully avoided—he had little inkling of what awaited him.

Once celebrated for its decorum, etiquette and ethical standards, the Allahabad High Court, along with several other courts in Uttar Pradesh, had come under the sway of a belligerent group of lawyers who showed scant respect for the law. These lawyers had acquired the dubious ability to browbeat judges at will. Nor were all the judges entirely above reproach.

Determined to restore order, Justice Sodhi undertook serious efforts to clear the cobwebs and streamline the system. As judge and later chief justice, he navigated the politico-legal labyrinth around him while confronting caste prejudice, challenges to his religion and character, arbitrary judicial diktats, and the low cunning that often masqueraded as legal wisdom. Along the way, he made both friends and enemies—the latter ultimately costing him an elevation to the Supreme Court.

Told with remarkable candour and objectivity, this is Justice Sodhi’s story. A compelling—and at times disturbing—account of the Allahabad High Court, it offers a rare glimpse into the sordid episodes that usually remain hidden on ‘the other side of justice’.