Book review : Abhinav Chandrachud's Supreme whispers

Several books are written about the Supreme Court; its evolution, its criticism or just simply about the highlights of this great institution serving the nation but only a few talks about the unheard. Supreme Whispers is one-of-a-kind, a book which will steal a person’s mind by telling them the narratives painted on the walls of the paramount Court of the country. The book provides ample of morsel memoir & reminiscence about judicial rivalries, lobbying, dissent, the pre-collegium system, Special Leave Petitions and what not. Based on George Gadbois’s seminal research work, the book provides ample of sample stories about judicial rivalries, lobbying, dissent, the pre-collegium system, Special Leave Petitions, etc. The book provides insight into the humane perspective of the court. While reading, we are taken into a fascinating journey of the inner workings of the Supreme Court while trying to understand the heavy burden of responsibility that rest on the shoulders of these judges. The reader is taken into an entertaining journey of revelations and facts through Gadbois’ interviews which are coupled with the eloquent strokes of the author regarding the prevalent political and judicial landscapes of the time that creates a stunning legal masterpiece. Gadbois had diligently prepared for each interview and they were a massive success as the judges were brutally frank in their answers. The book, uncannily, explores the inside out of the judges of the Supreme Court which not just includes their attitude towards fellow justices but also towards government. For instance, Justice Shelat, in order to torpedo Justice Bhagwati’s nomination to the Supreme Court,  gave Chief Justice Sikri an impression that Justice Bhagwati was interested in ‘pleasing the government’. The very idea of knowing the secret lives of famous and infamous, known and unknown, male and female justices is so overwhelming that it deserves to be read not only by law students but also by students enrolled in different courses. To understand it in modish scenario, wouldn’t we want to know why the former Chief Justice Dipak Misra has one of the most debatable track record as a judge? Had the author written the book for 2018 Supreme Court judges, the readers would have got an untold insider explanation. An another incidence in the book, the author answers as to why the biggest dissenter of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Subba Rao, did not dissent in a single case after becoming the Chief Justice of India. 

Author Abhinav Chandrachud has divided the book in six chapters. The very first chapter of the book shatters the image of the Supreme Court as a body of consensus. It goes into details of various rivalries, jealousies and tensions between judges of the Supreme Court over matters of ideology or more often, over quite personal matters. Another interesting insight that the book offers is about the most controversial topic in current judicial system i.e. the criteria for the selection of judges for the Supreme Court. Apparently in addition to seniority and merit, the ideological leanings of the judges, their family backgrounds, their suitability to the diversity quota in the SC, and their personal habits were also taken into account while considering their elevation.

All that could be said in end is, the reader is taken on an entertaining journey of revelations and facts through Gadbois’ interviews which are coupled with the eloquent strokes of the author regarding the prevalent political and judicial landscapes of the time that creates a stunning legal masterpiece.