SURAT, Aug 5: When the history of judicial activism is fully achieved, Justice D A Desai will loom large as a whole constellation of stars on the Indian Juristic firmament,'' states Prof Upendra Baxi, former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, in a recently released book on Justice D A Desai.The book, Justice D A Desai: A Warrior Judge, was recently released in Ahmebadad at a function, organised by Justice D A Desai Amrut Mahotsav Samiti.
The book, edited by Prof Hakumat Desai, gives a comprehensive glimpse of Desai -- synonymous with judicial activism -- his career graph, personality and contribution to judiciary.
The book contains 16 articles written by Desai on various subjects ranging from nuclear arms race, relevance of secularism to judicial activism, while the second part of the book contains lectures delivered by Desai on numerous occasions.
On `Relevance Of Secularism', Desai writes, ``If politicians sought refuge in communal vote banks over the year and communalised politics, heavy price will have to be paid unless the process is reversed. If the Parliamentary democracy cannot be run without appeal to caste communal vote banks, it is time that we reshaped our political institutions.''
Judicial activism, Desai states, has been a subject of perennial debate. ``Judges must overcome the unconscious empire of their own predilections. Judges who innovate are called activists. Their critics assert that activist judge exercises the power of the legislature.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
