Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 3: Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday voiced serious concern over what he termed as the misuse of judicial processes in India, lamenting that courts are increasingly being clogged by frivolous and politically motivated cases where "the process itself becomes the punishment."
Speaking to reporters , Tharoor’s comments came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court urging a BJP leader to consider withdrawing a defamation case filed against him. Referring to the matter, Tharoor said, “In our legal system, many frivolous cases are allowed to drag on, and the real damage is done by making individuals go through the legal ordeal. The key question is — is our judiciary’s time being used for substantive justice, or is it being diverted for political vendettas?”
He further clarified the context of the case filed against him, stating that it stemmed from a quote in a book he authored, which had cited a 2011 article containing a statement by an RSS leader, who later joined the BJP and held a significant position in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
“I wasn’t attacking Prime Minister Modi or targeting any individual. I was merely quoting a published article, which itself quoted someone from the RSS back then. The case was filed against me six years later, and the court itself found no basis to proceed,” Tharoor stated.
When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks endorsing US President Donald Trump’s ‘dead economy’ comment about India, Tharoor chose not to offer criticism. “I don't want to comment on what my party leader has said. He would have had his own reasons,” he said diplomatically.
However, Tharoor stressed the importance of India-US relations, noting that the strategic and economic partnership between the two countries must be preserved. “India exports nearly $90 billion worth of goods to the United States. We cannot afford to jeopardize that relationship or see it diminish,” he remarked.
Tharoor’s sharp observations have once again stirred conversation around the growing politicization of judicial processes and the need to restore faith in the independence and efficiency of India's courts.