Find the dictionary

From ‘Measure for measure: On India’s courts and criticism’, The Hindu, May 21, 2026: In the Ali Khan Mahmudabad matter, the Court granted him relief from coercive action but also imposed a gag order. Then, in a display of willingness to discipline the norms of public conduct rather than determine legality, it urged the state to decline to prosecute him as a concession. The irony is that in a May 2025 hearing in this matter, Justice Surya Kant — who became the Chief Justice in November that year — said, “The learned professor cannot have the lack of dictionary words … He could convey the very same feelings in a simple language without hurting others. Have some respect for the sentiments of others. Use simple and neutral kind of language, respecting others.” This is the same judge who earlier this month called people “cockroaches” and “parasites”. Surely he must not want for a dictionary to find the right language to criticise people? Featured image credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya/Pexels.