“I Still Intend To Practise In India”: Tushar Mehta’s Light-Hearted Remark Draws Warm Laughter At Book Launch

In an evening that blended constitutional gravitas with rare courtroom humour, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Sunday unveiled a deeply personal literary side of himself while launching his two books — The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre and The Lawful and The Awful.

Addressing an audience comprising judges, senior advocates, law officers and constitutional dignitaries, Mehta described the occasion as a “slightly bizarre appearance,” noting how unusual it was for a practising lawyer to publicly embrace the lighter side of the legal profession.

“There is a certain peculiarity in an advocate publishing books on the lighter side of law. It feels rather like a surgeon writing humorously about his own operation theatre,” Mehta remarked.

But the evening’s most memorable moment came when he explained why the books consciously avoid references to Indian courts and judges.

“Since I practise in India and intend to continue doing so for many more years, I have consciously chosen not to include any incidents involving Indian courts, Indian judges, or Indian judgments,” he said, drawing warm laughter across the hall.

The remark set the tone for the evening and was later affectionately referenced by both Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant during their own addresses.

Mehta repeatedly clarified that the books were not intended as legal critiques or academic commentaries, but as reflections on the deeply human, unpredictable and occasionally humorous world surrounding the practice of law.

“These are collections of true stories. Nothing is imaginary or fictional,” he said.

At another point, Mehta elegantly captured the spirit of the books themselves.

“Today is the occasion where there is really a merging line between the lawful and the awful, and nobody, until they read the books, will be able to decide what is lawful and what is awful.”

The books, according to Mehta, bring together unusual incidents, courtroom absurdities, eccentric personalities and evolving legal dilemmas from jurisdictions across the world. Themes ranging from artificial intelligence in legal research to judicial eccentricities and modern courtroom culture find place within the narratives.

Without directly entering into constitutional debate, Mehta also briefly touched upon his well-known position on the cautious use of foreign jurisprudence in Indian constitutional interpretation.

“It is quite well known that I am not a very great fan of introducing foreign jurisdictions while interpreting the Indian Constitution,” he observed, while adding that the books themselves reflect his extensive engagement with comparative legal systems.

The Solicitor General also displayed characteristic self-awareness while speaking about the legal profession’s tendency towards excessive seriousness.

“I have not even pretended to be scholarly while writing this book, an infection which infects almost everyone on this side of the Bar,” he said humorously.

Beyond the wit and satire, the evening carried an unmistakably emotional undertone.

Mehta repeatedly thanked members of the judiciary and legal fraternity for spending a Sunday evening at the launch, describing himself as “indebted” by their presence.

One of the more heartfelt moments came when he remarked that Home Minister Amit Shah would have unveiled his first books “whether he would have been Home Minister or anyone else,” reflecting a friendship that predates public office.

The event marked the formal launch of The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre and The Lawful and The Awful in the presence of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, senior judges, members of the Bar and distinguished guests from the legal fraternity.