Basil Nabi Malik

Becoming a judge

Becoming a judge

Why is a judge’s role considered so onerous? For a number of reasons. Updated 27 Jan, 2024 11:16am
Great expectations

Great expectations

There is a perception that the SC shall always be beholden to personal likes and dislikes of certain senior judges. Updated 21 Oct, 2023 08:48am
No grand plan

No grand plan

Most institutions treat the Constitution like a magazine we read to kill time, as opposed to a document that must be adhered to in letter and spirit. Updated 09 Aug, 2023 09:14am
Not a numbers game

Not a numbers game

The real issue is the significance of what was said by the judges on either side of the divide. Updated 14 Apr, 2023 09:17am
Inconvenient truths

Inconvenient truths

The problem isn’t simply the army, politicians, or the judiciary, and how they’ve made a hash of things. Updated 24 Mar, 2023 09:45am
A method to political madness

A method to political madness

If everyone indulges in political games, then who’s left doing their portion of the work? Updated 18 Nov, 2022 08:47am
No saviours

No saviours

Unlike before, the sense of doom and gloom seems to have eclipsed all traditional beacons of hope. Updated 22 Oct, 2022 09:05am
The cost of no criteria

The cost of no criteria

Would controversies have arisen about judges’ appointments if open criteria had been announced? Updated 15 Jul, 2022 08:55am
Implementing the law

Implementing the law

The line between ‘implementable’ and ‘wishful thinking’ is a fine one indeed. Published 10 Mar, 2022 08:04am
When night turns into day

When night turns into day

It is not about disagreeing with the majority or ‘plurality’, but the manner in which such disagreement presents itself. Published 14 Feb, 2022 07:57am
The elephant in the room

The elephant in the room

What are the baseline benchmarks and standards in the JCP’s overall decision-making methods? Published 13 Jan, 2022 06:58am
Selective due process

Selective due process

As a society, we tend to establish guilt before innocence and decide before we deliberate. Published 30 Sep, 2021 06:39am
Simple transparency

Simple transparency

Open decision-making is symbolic of a judiciary with nothing to hide. Published 15 Sep, 2021 07:25am
An admission of guilt

An admission of guilt

No matter how much lawyers would like to state the obvious, certain considerations come in the way. Published 02 Sep, 2021 07:39am
Not a victory for rule of law

Not a victory for rule of law

Suo motu actions, for all their perceived good, are inherent illustrations of the failure of the judicial system. Updated 12 Aug, 2021 08:08am
A system of delays

A system of delays

The problem lies in the interests and capacities of the various players that drive the judicial set-up. Published 24 May, 2021 06:53am