Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Launches Books on Courtroom Humor

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta launched two books titled 'The Bench, The Bar and The Bizarre' and 'The Lawful and The Awful' in New Delhi on May 10, 2026, chronicling humorous incidents from courtrooms. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who attended the event, praised Mehta for compiling anecdotes drawn from case files, trials, and legal quirks, calling the works a rare blend of law and levity.

The Chief Justice remarked that Mehta must have written the books during delays in court proceedings, joking that he may have discovered 'the best time for comedic writing is while Court No. 1 is taking too long to read a file.' CJI Kant added that Delhi alone holds enough material to fill a library, though he speculated Mehta omitted Indian bench stories out of 'heightened survival instinct' to avoid fallout in his own courtroom.

Home Minister Amit Shah was present at the launch, which also drew Supreme Court and High Court judges, law officers, and senior advocates. The CJI noted the books include episodes ranging from dress code mishaps and AI errors in legal documents to intoxicated witnesses and dramatic courtroom behavior, describing the judiciary as a place where 'theatre meets law.'

CJI Kant said he would contribute to a potential third volume after retirement, when he would be 'less tight-lipped.' The event concluded without announcement of further publications, but Mehta's work has sparked informal discussion among legal circles about the role of humor in judicial culture.

The books were published on May 10, 2026, and are expected to be distributed through legal academic channels. The next public appearance by the Solicitor General is scheduled for a Supreme Court hearing on May 12.