THE ART ART OF WRITING JUDGMENT - By Justice Sunil Ambwani, Judge, Allahabad High Court, Allahabad 1. A judgment is the statement given ! the Judge" #n the g$#unds #% a de&$ee #$ #$de$. It is the end '$#du&t #% the '$#&eedings in the (#u$t. The )$iting #% a judgment is #ne #% the m#st m#st im'#$tant and time &#nsuming tas* 'e$%#$med 'e$%#$med ! a Judge. The ma*ing and the )$iting #% a judgment and the st!+e in )hi&h it is )$itten" va$ies %$#m Judge t# Judge and $e,e&ts the &ha$a&te$isti& &ha$a&te$isti& #% a Judge. Eve$! Judge" #% eve$! $an* has his #)n distin&t st!+e #% )$iting. -. A judgment judgment is distin&t distin&t %$#m %$#m a %#$ma+ %#$ma+ #$de$ #$de$ as it gives gives $eas# $eas#ns ns %#$ a$$iv a$$iving ing at a &#n&+ &#n&+us usi#n i#n.. In United United tates it is &a++ed the /#'ini#n0 the e2'+anati#n given ! a Judg Judge e %#$ %#$ the the #$de #$de$$ 3na+ 3na++! +! '$#' '$#'#s #sed ed #$ made made.. The The a&*+#g #% &ases has 'ut a g$eat '$essu$e #n the Judges. It is n# +#ng +#nge$ e$ '$ud '$uden entt t# )$it )$ite e a +#ng +#ng and and ve$ ve$#s #se e judgment" )ith un&#nt$#++ed un&#nt$#++ed e2'$essi#ns e2'$essi#ns and &itati#ns. The '$essu$e '$essu$e #% )#$* and st$ess #n m#st #% the Judges t#da!" t#da!" demands demands im'$#vin im'$#ving g s*i++s s*i++s in )$iting )$iting judgment" judgment" )hi&h a$e $ie%" sim'+e" and &+ea$ )ith#ut &#m'$#mising )ith the 4ua+it!. 4ua+it!. 5. In &i &ivi+ ma matte$s" th the ju judgments as the $e4ui$ement #% +a) g#es" ma! e $#ad+! &+assi3ed int# t)# &ateg#$ies" &ateg#$ies" name+!" +#ng and sh#$t judgments judgments.. In #$igina+ suits" the 3na+ de&isi#n #% a &ase $e4ui$es $e4ui$es )$iting #% a +#ng and $eas#ned judgment. These in&+udes suits %#$ 'e$manent #$ '$#hiit#$! injun&ti#n '#ssessi#n and mes mesne '$#3 '$#3tt s'e& 'e&i3& i3& 'e$%# e$%#$$man& man&e e #% &#nt$ #nt$a a&t
&an&e++ati#n #% d#&uments 'a$titi#n and '#ssessi#n diss#+uti#n #% 3$m and a&&#unting $edem'ti#n #$ %#$e&+#su$e #% m#$tgage et&. As &#m'a$ed t# it a Judge is $e4ui$ed t# )$ite sh#$t judgments" in the matte$ #% inte$+#&ut#$! #$de$s summa$! suits '$e+imina$! issues $evie) $est#$ati#n a&&e'ting &#m'$#mise et&. The (#de #% (ivi+ 6$#&edu$e" 1789 :the (#de; ; is de3ned as %#$ma+ e2'$essi#n #% an! de&isi#n #% a (ivi+ (#u$t" )hi&h is n#t a de&$ee. The > is a+s# a de&$ee. >. O$de$ ?? #% the (#de" dea+s )ith " is t# e )$itten in the +anguage #% the (#u$t" and sha++ &#ntain the '#int #$ '#ints %#$ dete$minati#n" the de&isi#n the$e#n and the $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. The se&ti#n
%u$the$ '$#vides that the judgment sha++ s'e&i%! the #en&e :i% an!; #% )hi&h" and the se&ti#n #% I6(" #$ #the$ +a) unde$ it" a&&used is &#nvi&ted and 'unishment t# )hi&h he is senten&ed. I% the judgment is #% a&4uitta+ it sha++ state the #en&e #% )hi&h the a&&used is a&4uitted and di$e&t that he e set at +ie$t!. In &ase #% &#nvi&ti#n %#$ an #en&e 'unisha+e )ith death #$ in the a+te$native )ith im'$is#nment %#$ +i%e" the judgment has t# state the $eas#ns %#$ senten&e a)a$ded and s'e&ia+ $eas#ns %#$ death senten&e. In &ase #% &#nvi&ti#n )ith im'$is#nment %#$ a te$m #% #ne !ea$ #$ m#$e" a sh#$te$ te$m #% +ess than th$ee m#nths" a+s# $e4ui$es the (#u$t t# $e&#$d $eas#ns %#$ a)a$ding su&h senten&e un+ess the senten&e is #ne #% im'$is#nment" ti++ the $ising #% the (#u$t #$ un+ess the &ase )as t$ied summa$i+! unde$ the '$#visi#ns #% the (#de. . F#$ #$de$s unde$ e&ti#n 11 :%#$ *ee'ing 'ea&e and %#$ g##d ehavi#u$;" e&ti#n 159:-; :&#n3$ming #$de$ %#$ $em#va+ #% nuisan&e;" e&ti#n 1- :%#$ maintenan&e; and e&ti#n 1> #$ 1> :dis'utes as t# imm#va+e '$#'e$ties;" the (#de '$#vides in su@se&ti#n :; that #$de$ sha++ &#ntain the '#int #$ '#ints %#$ dete$minati#n" the de&isi#n the$e#n and the $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. e&ti#n 5 '$#vides %#$ a summa$! meth#d #% )$iting judgment ! Met$#'#+itan Magist$ate" giving #n+! 'a$ti&u+a$s $ega$ding the &ase" name" 'a$entage and $esiden&e #% the a&&used and &#m'+ainant" the #en&e &#m'+ained #% #$ '$#ved '+ea #% the a&&used and his e2aminati#n :i% an!; the 3na+ #$de$ and the date #% #$de$" and )he$e a''ea+ +ies" a $ie% statement #% the $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. The #$de$ t# 'a! &#m'ensati#n )he$e the (#u$t im'#ses senten&e #$ 3ne #$de$ #% &#m'ensati#n %#$ g$#und+ess a$$est and the #$de$ t# 'a! &#st in n#n@&#gnia+e &ases" ma! e made )ith the judgment unde$ e&ti#ns 5" 59 and 57 #% the (#de. e&ti#n 58 '$#vides %#$ #$de$ t# $e+ease #n '$#ati#n and s'e&ia+ $eas#ns in &e$tain &ases )he$e the (#u$t dea+s )ith a&&used 'e$s#n unde$ e&ti#n 58 #$ 6$#ati#n #% Oende$s A&t" 179. . The (#de #% (ivi+ 6$#&edu$e" 1789 and (#de #% ($imina+ 6$#&edu$e" 175 have '$#vided suB&ient guide+ines %#$ )$iting judgment. These" h#)eve$" a$e n#t
e2haustive. The$e is a )ide dis&$eti#n +e%t )ith the Judges t# &h##se thei$ st!+e #% )$iting" +anguage" manne$ #% statement #% %a&ts" dis&ussi#n #% eviden&e and $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. 9. The judgment )$iting &#nsumes the maj#$ 'a$t #% Judge0s )#$*. Ta*ing int# a&&#unt the m#unting a$$ea$s" and the nume$ #% &ases in the dai+! &ause +ist" the u$den in judgment )$iting s#metimes e&#mes int#+e$a+e. The Judges ! thei$ e2'e$ien&e" 3nd meth#ds t# $edu&e this u$den" ! )$iting $ie% #'ini#ns. The judgment" h#)eve$ sh#u+d se$ve the $e4ui$ement #% +a) )ith#ut &#m'$#mising )ith the 4ua+it!. 7. A judgment is n#t )$itten #n+! %#$ the ene3t #% the 'a$ties. It is a+s# )$itten %#$ ene3t #% +ega+ '$#%essi#n" #the$ judges and a''e++ate (#u$ts. The +#sing 'a$t! is the '$ima$! %#&us #% &#n&e$n. The )inne$ is n#t mu&h inte$ested in the $eas#ns %#$ su&&ess" as he is &#nvin&ed #% the $ighte#usness #% the &ause. The +##se$" h#)eve$" in the e2'ensive +itigati#n is entit+ed t# have a &andid e2'+anati#n #% the $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. It is n#t #n+! %#$ e2e$&ise #% an! a''e++ate $ight ut a+s# t# u'h#+d the inte++e&tua+ integ$it! #% the s!stem #% +a)" im'a$tia+it! and +#gi&a+ $eas#ning. The +a)!e$ is inte$ested in the judgment as he unde$stands the ana+!sis and e2'#siti#ns #% +ega+ '$e&edents and '$in&i'+es. The +a)!e$s a+s# e2amine the judgments %#$ +ea$ning the! '$#vide" and %#$ the $eassu$an&e #% the 4ua+it! #% judi&ia$!. The! &an easi+! distinguish" the +a! Judge" the Judge '$#ne t# e$$#$s in %a&t 3nding" the Judge having diB&u+t! in unde$standing #% +a)s #% eviden&e" #$ the Judge" )h# has diB&u+ties )ith &#m'+e2 '$#'#siti#ns #% +a). 18. The #the$ Judges +#)e$ in hie$a$&h!" %a&ing &#mm#n +ega+ '$#+ems #$ in the same (#u$t a$e a+s# inte$ested in the de&isi#ns. The judge is a+s# a)a$e that his de&isi#n ma! e $e'#$ted and that it ma! esta+ish a +ega+ '$in&i'+e" inding" unti+ it is set aside ! the a''e++ate (#u$t. The est Judges 'e$%#$m thei$ $eas#ning #'ini#n h#nest+! t# the est #% thei$ ai+it! )ith#ut undue &#n&e$n that the a''e++ate (#u$t ma! 3nd e$$#$ #$
$ea&h a die$ent &#n&+usi#n. 11. The Judge must state the %a&ts e2'+i&it+! and &#ns&i#us+! as the! a$e %#und and the $eas#ns %#$ the de&isi#n. 1-. The judgment is a+s# a $e,e&ti#n #% the &#ns&ien&e #% a Judge" )h# )$ites it" and eviden&es his im'a$tia+it!" integ$it! and inte++e&tua+ h#nest!. The judgment )$iting '$#vides #''#$tunities %#$ judi&ia+ #B&e$s t# dem#nst$ate his #)n ai+it! and his )#$thiness t# e a 'a$ti&i'ant in the high t$aditi#n #% m#$a+ integ$it! and s#&ia+ uti+it!. 15. A&&#$ding t# #$d Tem'+et#n as s'#*en ! him in a ( inte$vie) in 177" the Judges and thei$ judgments &an e $#ad+! divided int# th$ee &ateg#$ies 'hi+#s#'he$s" s&ientists and adv#&ates 1. M$. Justi&e C. $ishna A!e$ %a++s in the &ateg#$! #% 'hi+#s#'he$" and M$. Justi&e 6.N. hag)ati" M$. Justi&e D.A. Desai and M$. Justi&e u+dee' ingh as s#&ia+ s&ientists. A Judge %a++ing in the &ateg#$! #% Adv#&ate" +eave t$a&es #% e+#4uen&es" in thei$ judgments. 1>. e%#$e )$iting a judgment a Judge must $ememe$ that he is 'e$%#$ming a 'u+i& a&t #% &#mmuni&ating his #'ini#n #n the issues $#ught e%#$e him and a%te$ the t$ia+ ! #se$ving %ai$ '$#&edu$es. He is $e4ui$ed t# te++ the 'a$ties #% the de&isi#n" #n the %a&ts $#ught e%#$e him" )ith a''+i&ati#n #% s#und '$in&i'+es #% +a)" his de&isi#n" and )hat the 'a$ties a$e su''#sed t# d# as a ne&essa$! &#nse4uent t# the judgment #$ t# a''ea+ against it. It is asi&a++! a &#mmuni&ati#n t# the 'a$ties &#ming e%#$e him %#$ a de&isi#n. 1. A judgment must egin )ith &+ea$ $e&ita+ #% %a&ts #% the &ase" &ause #% a&ti#n and the manne$ in )hi&h the &ase has een $#ught t# the (#u$t. A Judge must have essentia+ %a&ts in mind" and its na$$ati#n sh#u+d e )ith#ut an! mista*e. The %a&ts must &#me %$#m the $e&#$d and n#t %$#m the ast$a&t and $ie%s )ith#ut an! 'a$tisanshi' #$ &#+#u$ t# its na$$ati#n. The im'#$tan&e #% 3$st 'a$ag$a'h #% the judgment &ann#t e #ve$em'hasied. It must ans)e$ the 4uesti#ns as t# h#)" )hen" )he$e" )hat and )h!" )hi&h is an advise
given t# judi&ia+ &us. The $eadai+it! #% the #'ini#n im'$#ves i% the #'ening 'a$ag$a'h ans)e$s th$ee 4uesti#ns name+! )hat *ind #% &ase is this" )hat $#+es '+aintis and de%endants had in the t$ia+" and )hat a$e the issues" )hi&h the (#u$t has t# de&ide and ans)e$" giving suB&ient in%#$mati#n t# the $eade$ t# '$#&eed )ith $eading the judgment. 1. O$dina$i+! a $ie% statement #% %a&t is suB&ient i% it indi&ates the &#nte2t #% the dis'ute s# that +ega+ '$in&i'+e &h#sen %#$ de&isi#n &an e unde$st##d. At times" h#)eve$" it ma! e ne&essa$! %#$ judgment t# $e&#$d sustan&e #% %a&tua+ &#nte2t and the detai+s #% eviden&e '+a&ed e%#$e the (#u$t. I% the &#m'+e2it! #% the &ase $e4ui$es" the Judge ma! &h##se t# state the %a&ts &h$#n#+#gi&a++!" t# unde$stand )hat is de&ided. In su&h &ase the Judge ma! as* the $es'e&tive &#unse+ a &h$#n#+#gi&a+ statement #% %a&ts t# %#&us the attenti#n #% the 'a$ties t# sh#$ten the a$gument and ma*e it &asie$ t# )$ite the judgment. It is easie$ t# )$ite sh#$t judgment )he$e +ega+ issues a$e inv#+ved. Whe$e the %a&ts a$e in dis'ute" the Judge ma! '$e%e$ t# na$$ate the %a&ts in g$eate$ detai+. The %a&ts" )hi&h a$e 'a$t #% the essentia+ $eas#ning '$#&ess #% the Judge0s de&isi#n sh#u+d e indi&ated and $e&#$ded. 1. The issues a$e sett+ed et)een the 'a$ties e%#$e ta*ing eviden&e. In &$imina+ &ases" &ha$ges %$amed ! the (#u$t +ead t# the t$ia+. The judgment must 4u#te the issuesK#$ &ha$ges as the &ase ma! e immediate+! a%te$ the na$$ati#n #% %a&ts. It is a+)a!s %easi+e t# de&ide '$e+imina$! issues +i*e ju$isdi&ti#n #% (#u$t e%#$e g#ing int# the me$its #% the &ase. 19. The %#$mu+ati#n #% issues" sh#u+d e initiated as ea$+! in the '$#&eedings as '#ssi+e. On&e the 'a$ties a$e &+ea$ in thei$ mind a#ut the essentia+ 4uesti#ns" the! ma! sh#$ten the '$#&eedings. It a+s# he+'s t# %#&us the mind #% the judge #n the '$e&ise matte$s t# e dete$mined. When the essentia+ 4uesti#ns #% +a) a$e &+ea$" the '$#&edu$e e&#mes sim'+ie$. It is a+)a!s he+'%u+ t# 4u#te the statute and the sett+ed +a)" i% it &an e %#und in auth#$it!" t# '$#&eed %u$the$ )ith dis&ussing
the eviden&e. The H#n0+e Dennis Mah#ne!. AO. L(. In /Judgment W$iting F#$m and Fun&ti#n0" has #'ined" )ith s#me )isd#m@
h#)eve$" a+)a!s ette$ t# dis&uss the eviden&e e%#$e giving an #'ini#n t# $e+! u'#n it. --. The s#u+ #% a judgment a$e the $eas#ns %#$ a$$iving at the 3ndings. These a$e a+s# &a++ed /the #'ini#n0 #% a Judge. The$e is n# $igid $u+e" as t# h#) a 3nding ma! e $e&#$ded. The Judge" h#)eve$" sh#u+d give his $eas#ns. It is n#t suB&ient t# sa! that he e+ieves the eviden&e #$ ag$ees )ith the a$gument. The Judge must give his $eas#ns %#$ su&h e+ie% and ag$eement. An e+a#$ate a$gument d#es n#t a+)a!s $e4ui$e e+a#$ate ans)e$. -5. A Judge is a human eing. He '#ssesses the same st$ength and )ea*ness in &ha$a&te$ as a &#mm#n man. i*e a++ human eing a Judge '#ssesses 'e$s#na+ '$e%e$en&es and '$e@dis'#siti#ns. It is advisa+e %#$ a Judge t# %#++#) sett+ed n#$ms and '$a&ti&e %#$ )$iting judgment" in the eginning #% his &a$ee$. With e2'e$ien&e he ma! ta*e +ie$ties #% ad#'ting ne) meth#ds and inn#vate. The +#gi&a+ $eas#ning" h#)eve$" must %#++#) in $ea&hing t# a &#n&+usi#n. A Judge is n#t %$ee %$#m 'a$tia+it! and ias. The$e ma! e a +u$*ing #$ su@ &#ns&i#us ias" )hi&h ma! n#t e *n#)n t# the Judge himse+%. The ias ma! have a$isen #n a&&#unt #% an! %a&t#$" )hi&h #$dina$i+! ae&t the +i%e #% the human eing. The Judge ma! e in,uen&ed ! the suje&tive '$e%e$en&es #$ iases in an una&&e'ta+e )a! -. With e2'e$ien&e a Judge ma! identi%! su&h ias and ma! )in #ve$ it. The est )a! t# #ve$&#me the judgment t# e ae&ted ! su&h #utside and un*n#)n %a&t#$ is t# %#++#) +#gi&a+ $eas#ning. ->. The meth#d #% a$$iving at a &#n&+usi#n is the m#st im'#$tant 'a$t #% judgment )$iting. The '$#&ess ! )hi&h the &#n&+usi#n is a$$ived" and the statement in the judgment #% that '$#&ess" tests a Judge #% his ai+it! and integ$it!. It ma! eithe$ e ! syllogistic process, inferential process #$ intuitive process. /!++#gism0 means" a dedu&tive s&heme #% a %#$ma+ a$gument &#nsisting #% a maj#$ and a min#$ '$emise and a &#n&+usi#n. In s!++#gisti& '$#&ess the Judge ad#'ts a dedu&tive '$#&ess in )hi&h he a&&e'ts an a$gument #n a maj#$ '$emise" )hi&h #ve$ )eighs the min#$ '$emise t#
d$a) his #)n &#n&+usi#n. In &ase #% in%e$entia+ '$#&ess the Judge $e+ies u'#n the eviden&e and $ea&hes t# a &#n&+usi#n. In the intuitive '$#&ess" the Judge ad#'ts 's!&h#+#gi&a+ '$#&ess ! )hi&h the &#n&+usi#n is a$$ived at m#$e ! intuiti#n $athe$ than $eas#ns 5. In su&h a meth#d the Judge ma! e+ieve a )itness in 'a$t #$ )h#+e and then d$a) the &#n&+usi#n ! justi%!ing it %$#m the $eas#ning su''+ied ! him eithe$ ! e+ie% #$ e2'e$ien&e. In #th the meth#ds" in &ase )hat is eing d#ne is t# a$$ive at a t$uth" the meth#d ma! e justi3ed. -. The$e is a die$en&e et)een neutrality and impartiality. Im'a$tia+it! $e4ui$es &##+ $eas#n un&#ntaminated thin*ing )ith#ut eing in,uen&ed ! 'e$s#na+ &#mmitments" iases and '$e&#n&e'ti#ns. The neut$a+it! #n the #the$ hand means the Judge is n#n@a+igned. A Judge ma! egin eing neut$a+ and &#ntinue t# e s# in the '$#&ess #% the t$ia+" ut at the end he has t# de&ide the &ase in %av#u$ #% eithe$ #% the 'a$ties )ith#ut an! 'a$tia+it!. Im'a$tia+it! $e4ui$es a Judge t# $ise a#ve a++ va+ues and 'e$s'e&tives. -. A Judge must &+ea$+! )$ite the #'e$ative '#$ti#n #% the judgment" )hi&h '$#n#un&es his &#n&+usi#n #ve$ the issues $#ught e%#$e him. He must give &+ea$ and '$e&ise di$e&ti#n and the manne$ in )hi&h the di$e&ti#ns have t# e #e!ed in &#n%#$mit! )ith the '$a!e$s made in the '+aint. The #je&t #% g##d judgment is t# &#n&+ude the dis'ute and n#t t# +eave the matte$ unde&ided. The judgment sh#u+d +eaving n#thing t# e $#ught a&* t# the (#u$t. The #'e$ative '#$ti#n #% the #$de$ sh#u+d as %a$ as '#ssi+e se+%@e2e&uting and se+%@&#ntained. -. In &$imina+ matte$s a%te$ $e&#$ding &#nvi&ti#n" the Judge has an im'#$tant tas* #% giving senten&e" 3ne #$ &#m'ensati#n. The +a) $e4ui$es the a&&used t# e hea$d e%#$e a)a$ding senten&e. The Judge must give $eas#ns %#$ giving senten&e" 3ne and a''#$ti#n the &#m'ensati#n t# the vi&tim %#$ the sue$an&e" &#mmensu$ate )ith seve$it! #% the #en&e. -9. 6+ain and sim'+e +anguage has a+)a!s een a''$e&iated in )$iting judgments. $evit!" sim'+i&it! and
&+a$it! a$e the ha++ma$*s #% the g##d judgment. The g$eatest #% these is &+a$it!. It is ette$ t# av#id invidi#us e2am'+es" unne&essa$! 4u#tati#ns" and +e&tu$e. A &#nt$#++ed judgment )ith#ut an! +ega+ese" sha$' &$iti&ism" 'in&hing &#mments" and sa$&asm inv#*es $es'e&t t# the &#u$t. h#$t senten&es and 'a$a 'h$asing" head n#tes and suheading" )he$eve$ it is ne&essa$!" is a $e&#mmended st!+e #% )$iting a judgment. -7.
The &hie% guide+ines %#$ using '+ain +anguage a$e :1;
A&hieve a $eas#na+e ave$age senten&e +ength.
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6$e%e$ sh#$t )#$ds t# +#ng #nes" sim'+e t# %an&!. Minimise ja$g#n and te&hni&a+ te$ms.
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Av#id d#u+e #$ t$i'+e negatives. N# $eade$ )ants t# )$est+e )ith senten&es.
The document need not be checked unless it is desired by a party. The document may be checked, if it is desired by party. #e could not have created the trust, e%cept for the bene&t of the defendant. #e could have created trust only for the bene&t of the defendant. :>;
6$e%e$ the a&tive v#i&e sing+e ve$!@ #je&t@senten&e. N#ti&e must e given &#m'a$es '##$+! )ith the landlord must give notice.
'assive (oice! He )as a&4uitted by the )ourt. ctive (oice! The )ourt acquitted him. 'assive (oice! It was reported by the )ourt )ommissioner that the disputed land was covered by water. A&tive C#i&e The (#u$t (#mmissi#ne$ $e'#$ted that the +and )as &#ve$ed ! )ate$.
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ee' $e+ated )#$ds t#gethe$" s'e&ia++! suje&t and ve$!" ve$ and #je&t.
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$ea* u' the te2t )ith headings and suheadings.
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Use 'a$a++e+ st$u&tu$es %#$ enume$ati#ns.
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Av#id e2&essive &$#ss $e%e$en&es" )hi&h &$eate +inguisti& maes.
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Av#id #ve$ de3ning.
:18;
Use $e&ita+s and 'u$'#se &+auses >.
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Av#id +ega+ism t# ma*e !#u$ judgment $eade$ %$iend+!.
58. $evit! is the vi$tue #% a )ise man and is %ami+ia$ied ! th#se" )h# have &+a$it! in mind. N# #ne +i*es t# $ead +#ng judgments. $ie% #'ini#ns a$e &#m%#$ta+e in $eading. h$i Gu$&ha$an Das in his a$ti&+e 'u+ished #n 85.18.-885 in
“Soon after he became prime minister, Winston Churchill wrote to the First Lord of the Admiralty to ask, ‘Pray Sir, tell me on one side of the sheet of paper, how the oyal !a"y is preparin# for the war,$ Churchill knew that if he did not %ualify his re%uest, he would ha"e recei"ed a unreadable &'' pa#e report( )re"ity is a #reat "irtue, and nowhere more needed than in *ndia( +ur ud#es write ud#ements that are too lon#- our lawyers ramble on- our e.ecuti"es try to impress with len#thy memos- our politicians well try to #et in a word( /hat less can be more is specially true in #ood writin#s( * disco"ered this at Proctor and 0amble, a company as famous for its le#endary one pa#e memos as for its products( *ts wondrous one pa#e memo was created out of the same confidence in reason and technolo#y that built America, and is as ele#ant as Paninis #rammer or 1uclids #eometry( )ased on the reasonable assumption that all mana#ers suffer from an o"erload of paperwork and files, it is simple factual and lo#ical( /he reader can
scan it in minutes and #rasp its contents it has ust enou#h data that a mana#er needs to make decision and no more( *t is clear, precise, eschews hyperbole, and it actually impro"es the speed and %uality of decisions, and hence it can be a source of uncompetiti"e ad"anta#e( We *ndians are "erbose, and need to be reminded that humans were born with two ears and two eyes, and one ton#ue, so that we should see and hear twice as much as we say( Shakespeare too, *, think, must ha"e had us *ndians in mind, when he wrote in ichard ***‘/alkers are no #ood doers($ 2ence he offers us this ad"ice in 2enry 3 ‘4en of few words are best of men$( 56( /he ud#ment must be desi#ned and structured so that readers find their way throu#h it easily and %uickly( /here is no such thin# as #ood writin#( /here is only #ood rewritin#7( *t is absolutely necessary to re"ise the ud#ment( A re"ised ud#ment takes care of errors and reassures the 8ud#e of the correctness of his opinion( *t also ensures to a"oid silly mistakes( *t is ad"isable to the 8ud#es, to read their ud#ments after a few years, to ensure that same mistakes are not repeated( /here is always a roo m for impro"ement( 59( /he ud#ments are either #i"en e.tempore or reser"ed to be pronounced later( /he practical e.perience shows that e.tempore ud#ments #i"en at the close of the ar#uments, are addressed to the counsels and the parties( /he e.tempore ud#ments rarely attempt to decide important %uestions of fact or law( /he reser"ed ud#ments, on the other hand, sur"i"e lon#er in decidin# the issues and in the memory of those for whom it is written( 55( /he Pri"y Council adopted the style of tenderin# the ad"ice of the )oard to 2er 4aesty in which only one ud#ment was #i"en( /he form is no lon#er ri#idly applied( 2owe"e r, the style of writin# ud#ment namely usin# simple lan#ua#e with clarity of mind both in writin# le#al principles and conclusions, adds %uality to the ud#ment(
5&( /he lan#ua#e employed by a 8ud#e speaks of his character( A humble 8ud#e with human personality a"oids usin# intemperate and unparliamentary lan#ua#e( *t is always better to a"oid usin# words ‘*$, ‘can$ and ‘must$ in the ud#ments( Some e.amples of temperate lan#ua#e are: ‘2e is wrong in sayin# ;;;(( 2e is not correct in sayin# ;;$ “/he plaintiff$s case is full of falsehood……… Between the two I prefer the e"idence of defendants;;($ ‘* do not believe him;; 2e is not worthy of belief……….’ “/he witness is not telling the truth…….. /he witness is one step removed from being a honest man……’ 57( /he primary purpose of pronouncin# a "erdict is to dispose of the matter in contro"ersy between the parties before it( A ud#e, howe"er, is not e.pected to drift away from pronouncin# upon a contro"ersy, and to sit in ud#ment o"er the conduct of the udicial or %uasi udicial authority, or the parties before him and indul#e in criticism and commentin# thereon unless such conduct comes, of necessity under re"iew and the e.pression becomes part of reasonin# to arri"e at a conclusion necessary to decide the main contro"ersy( So far as possible a ud#e should a"oid dero#atory and dispara#in# remarks( !onetheless, suble irony, detectable only by the co#noscenti, is a useful in con"eyin# a key point in the reasonin# of a ud#e( “A Judge entrusted with the task of administering ustice should be bold and feel fearless while acting udicially and giving e!pression to his views and constructing his udgment or order. It
should be no deterrent to formation and e!pression of an honest opinion and acting thereon so long as it is within four corners of law that any action taken by a subordinate udicial officer is open to scrutiny in udicial review before a superior forum with which its opinion may not meet approval and the superior court may upset his action or opinion. "he availability of such fearlessness is essential for the maintenance of udicial independence. #owever$ sobriety$ cool$ calm and poise should be reflected in every action and e!pression of a Judge% .& 5<( /he style of udicial writin# is constantly chan#in#( /he Latinism and le#al clich=s are the days of past( *t may not be wise to use metaphors and idioms, to pro"e a point( /he ud#es a"oid usin# words or e.pression showin# #ender>bias( /here is some difference of opinion re#ardin# use of foot notes, appendices, and other adds to communication( /he ud#es in America use foot notes, whereas 8ud#es in Canada and Australia find them offendin#( )re"ity, simplicity and clarity ha"e always been the watch words for effecti"e udicial writin#( 5?( @i"ersity of opinion in ud#ment writin# is the stren#th of the common law udicial tradition( *t pro"ides ne"er endin# stream of ideas and ways of communicatin# them( /he e.perimental "ariety helps to de"elop the law( *t is the pri"ile#e of each succeedin# #eneration of ud#es to nurture the proud herita#e and ad"ance this precious le#acy(
6
2on( 8ustice 4ichael Birby: ‘+n the Writin# of 8ud#ments$ based on a lecture to the First Australian conference on literature and the law, ni"ersity of Sydney 9
2on( )e"erley 4elachlin PC, Chief 8ustice of Canada: A
8udicial *mpartiality: impossible %uestD 5
/he 2on, @ennis 4ahooney A+( +C: 8ud#ment Writin#: ‘Form and Function$( &
)yran A( 0arner: “A @ictionary of 4odern Le#al sa#eE, P( <<6 7
1(!( )randis, 8(, (S( Supreme Court(
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*n the matter of: ‘B$ a 8udicial officer, *n re 9''6G 5 SCC 7&, by 2on$ble 8ustice (C( Lahoti(
