Criminal law offers a level of real-world impact and personal fulfillment unmatched by other legal fields, according to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna. Reflecting on his time as a criminal lawyer, he recalled a moment that reinforced this belief—a convict he had represented as Amicus Curiae once arrived at his doorstep just to say, “Thank you.”
“That was an experience that left me truly satisfied,” he shared, emphasizing that such moments define the essence of a career in criminal law.
Despite its importance, the CJI noted that many young lawyers shy away from the field. He urged them to reconsider, stressing that criminal law should be a first-choice specialization, not a fallback option.
Speaking at the launch of Ratanlal & Dhirajlal’s Law of Crimes: A Comprehensive Commentary on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the CJI also championed the need for a more empirical approach to criminal jurisprudence. He argued that legal decisions should be grounded in data rather than assumptions about human behavior.
“The data exists. The data speaks. The analytical tools are available. We need to let evidence drive our criminal law forward,” he asserted.
The event also featured prominent legal figures, including former CJI UU Lalit, whom CJI Khanna praised as a master of criminal law. Highlighting the continued relevance of legal commentaries, he pushed back against the notion that digital databases have made them obsolete.
“Judges rely on commentaries. So why shouldn’t we?” he posed.
Urging young lawyers to embrace the challenges and rewards of criminal law, CJI Khanna left them with a clear message—this field is more than just statutes and courtrooms; it’s about real lives, real impact, and justice shaped by evidence.
