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A former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Kurian Joseph, has recently stated that the Supreme Court’s motto “यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः” (Where there is Dharma, there is victory) should be removed.

He pointed out that Dharma, as stipulated in the Hindu fold, is not always the truth and therefore, does not deserve to be the motto of the Constitution of India. “The truth is the Constitution, Dharma - not always”.

He pointed out that when all High Courts across the country have adopted the motto “Satyameva Jayate”, there is no reason why the Supreme Court has chosen to keep the Dharmic notion, which is but a set of duties.

In a series of statements he made while speaking at an event organised by activists and a controversial website “The Wire”, Justice Joseph’s objections to the Shloka that appears in the revered epic of the Hindus, the Mahabharata are telling, especially because of his earlier comparison of the Catholic Church with the Preamble.
While pushing for the removal of the motto, the former judge who retired from the top court in 2018 said that the Chief Justice of India must consider the idea of its removal as the adoption of a Hindu shloka such as this, makes a huge difference in the approach of the Supreme Court in justice delivery.

Incidentally, the Judge was speaking on the topic “Supreme Court administration and management- Issues and concerns” but pointed out that the media had failed its duty and left the country in a hopeless position.