Supreme Court vindication of Manmohan Singh should initiate reform of criminal justice system: Ashwani Kumar
Senior advocate Ashwani Kumar has called for criminal justice reform following the Supreme Court's exoneration of the late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He argued that the prosecution process itself served as a form of punishment and criticized the impact of media trials on public figures.
Why it matters
It raises critical questions about the integrity of the Indian legal system and the need to protect the reputation of individuals against unsubstantiated criminal proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s “decisive and merited vindication” of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an “utterly untenable” criminal prosecution should prompt a wider reckoning with the country’s criminal justice system, senior advocate and former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said on Thursday (July 30, 2026).
Calling the Court’s order a “vindication of truth”, Mr. Kumar said the case underscored the dangers of a system in which the process of prosecution itself could become punishment, particularly when allegations were amplified through a media trial.
Comment | The institutionalised sluggishness of the legal system
“The media trial of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, known for his impeccable integrity, during his lifetime had caused incalculable damage to his reputation and dignity, for which there can be no recompense whatsoever,” he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in