Justice BV Nagarathna Says Freedom of Expression Is the Heartbeat of Democracy

At the launch of veteran lawyer Indira Jaising’s memoir, Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna made a powerful case for free speech and for women standing together in a profession still dominated by male networks.

Justice Nagarathna Champions Free Speech at Delhi Book Launch

Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna stepped up Thursday at a book launch in New Delhi to make something crystal clear. Freedom of speech and expression are not just rights. They are the very backbone of a healthy democracy.

She was speaking at the launch of senior advocate Indira Jaising’s memoir, The Constitution Is My Home a title she found deeply telling. “Freedom of speech and expression are very important in a democracy. Divergent thoughts and perspectives must be considered and allowed to be expressed,” Justice Nagarathna said.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had been invited as the chief guest. He could not attend due to a forthcoming BRICS judges’ meeting but sent a warm video message conveying his greetings and regrets.

A Book Title That Says It All

Justice Nagarathna praised the memoir’s title as more than just clever wordplay. She pointed out that most lawyers treat the Constitution like an occasional reference something to consult when a case demands it. Indira Jaising, she said, seemed to have made it her permanent home.

“The title of the book is deeply revealing. Most lawyers visit the Constitution occasionally or regularly when there is a case, but Jaising seems to have taken a permanent residence,” she observed.

The tribute landed with quiet force capturing Jaising’s decades of work on behalf of marginalised communities and constitutional causes.

The Brotherhood Problem and Why Sisterhood Is the Answer

Justice Nagarathna then turned to a subject that cuts to the heart of how women experience the legal profession. She spoke bluntly about the invisible advantages men carry into courts, chambers, and corridors of professional power.

“For generations, men in the legal profession have benefited from social networks of familiarity, recommendation and professional sponsorship. There is, in fact, almost a kind of brotherhood, an exclusive male club, which lies in this inherited ease of belonging, the confidence of moving through systems where they almost naturally fit in. Women, by contrast, have entered the profession without such a network and ease in most cases. That is why sisterhood in the profession is very important. Sisterhood in the profession is not a slogan but a conscious intellectual and professional commitment to ensure that access does not end with individual achievement,” Justice Nagarathna said.

Solidarity Over Scarcity: A Lasting Message

Justice Nagarathna wrapped up with a reminder clear-eyed and firm. The legal profession can be fiercely competitive. Yet the most lasting change has always come not from individual wins but from women choosing solidarity over rivalry.

In her view, freedom of expression much like women’s access to the legal profession cannot be just a provision on paper. It must be lived, practised, and actively protected. Democracy, she stressed, depends on it.