Prashant Bhushan

Prashant Bhushan – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and impact of Prashant Bhushan (born October 15, 1956) — Indian public interest lawyer, activist, and constitutional commentator. Discover his legal battles, ideals, controversies, and memorable quotes on democracy, accountability, and justice.

Introduction

Prashant Bhushan is one of India’s most prominent public interest lawyers and constitutional critics. Known for his uncompromising stance on judicial accountability, corruption, and transparency, Bhushan has challenged powerful institutions in service of citizen rights. His career has spanned landmark public interest litigations, activism in anti-corruption movements, and bold commentary on the health of India’s democracy. Though polarizing at times, his voice remains central in debates on the balance between power and accountability in a constitutional republic.

Early Life and Family

Prashant Bhushan was born on October 15, 1956, in Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India.

He is the eldest of three children of Shanti Bhushan and Kumud Bhushan. His father, Shanti Bhushan, is a distinguished lawyer and former Union Law Minister, who played a formative role in Prashant’s legal and public interest orientation.

Growing up in a household steeped in legal discourse and public affairs, Prashant was exposed early to constitutional questions, civil liberties, and the importance of state accountability.

Education and Early Formative Years

• Bhushan attended St. Joseph’s High School, Prayagraj, followed by St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad.

• He briefly enrolled in IIT Madras, but dropped out after his first semester.

• He pursued higher studies in the United States, including a stint at Princeton University’s PhD program, though he did not complete it.

• Ultimately, he earned B.A. and LL.B. degrees from Allahabad University.

Even as a student, Bhushan demonstrated intellectual interest in constitutional law: his early work The Case That Shook India engaged with the landmark 1975 case that led to the Emergency in India.

Career and Public Interest Litigation

Prashant Bhushan’s legal career is deeply intertwined with issues of public accountability, environmental justice, and institutional reform.

Legal Activism & Public Interest Litigation

• He has taken up hundreds of public interest litigations (PILs), often on issues of human rights, environment, and governance.

• Bhushan co-founded the Committee on Judicial Accountability (CJA) with his father in 1990 and later expanded it into the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Judicial Reforms (CJAR).

• Under his counsel, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) played a key role in the 2G spectrum case, which led to cancellation of corrupt telecom licenses and political upheaval.

• He also led challenges to coal block allocations (alleging favoritism), appointments of key oversight officials (e.g. P.J. Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner), and environmental regulation.

• He has pushed for greater transparency in judicial appointments, asset declaration by judges, and reforms to the Contempt of Court Act to allow more critical scrutiny of the judiciary.

Political Activism & Party Engagement

• In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Bhushan became closely involved in the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement centered around Anna Hazare.

• He was instrumental in the founding of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), envisioned as a political extension of anti-corruption activism.

• However, internal disagreements on ideology and functioning led to tensions. In 2015, Bhushan (along with Yogendra Yadav) was removed from key decision-making positions in AAP and later expelled.

• Following the split, Bhushan co-founded Swaraj Abhiyan, a socio-political platform advocating grassroots democratic engagement. Later, this led to creation of the political party Swaraj India in 2016.

Controversies, Criticism & Legal Consequences

• Bhushan has frequently drawn contempt of court proceedings for outspoken criticism of judicial actions or judges. In 2020, the Supreme Court found him guilty of contempt over two tweets criticizing Chief Justices and former CJs; he was fined ₹1.

• His viral tweets on court conduct, justice, and accountability have been both lauded and contested—debates swirl over limits of free speech and institutional dignity.

• At times, his criticism of public health measures (e.g. in the COVID-19 pandemic) and anti-vaccine positions have drawn public backlash.

Key Themes, Philosophy & Contributions

Prashant Bhushan’s public persona and legal philosophy revolve around several recurring themes:

1. Judicial Accountability
   Bhushan argues that while the judiciary must remain independent of executive and legislature, it must not be immune from scrutiny or criticism. He has championed mechanisms (e.g. judicial complaints commissions) to monitor judicial conduct.

2. Transparency & Anti-Corruption
   Corruption, in Bhushan’s view, thrives in secrecy. He emphasizes systemic reforms (asset disclosure, open processes, public oversight) to limit graft.

3. Citizen Empowerment & Civil Society
   He sees a strong civil society as essential to check concentration of power. Only organized public pressure, he suggests, can force accountability where institutions fail.

4. Constitutionalism & Rule of Law
   Bhushan underscores that all executive action must obey constitutional and legislative mandates; deviations are unconstitutional.

5. Critique of Growth First Policy
   He often criticizes the obsession with GDP and FDI growth as overshadowing the welfare of marginalized populations and environmental sustainability.

Famous Quotes by Prashant Bhushan

Here are some notable quotes reflecting his convictions:

• “A corrupt judiciary is hardly likely to hold a corrupt executive to account.”

• “Independence of Judiciary means independence from Executive and Legislature, but not independence from accountability.”

• “The judiciary is peopled by judges who are human, and being human, they are occasionally motivated by considerations other than an objective view of law and justice.”

• “One should at least have some self-righteous ego. Not in the sense you refuse to apologize when judges reason with you to apologize. Self-righteous ego means nobody can force you to apologize if there is no reason to do so.”

• “In India, all public servants employed by the central or a state government … are required … to submit returns of movable and immovable assets owned by them and their immediate family.”

• “Over the years, the judiciary has expanded its own powers by creative interpretations of the Constitution … this has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to a healthy environment, to health, primary education, livelihood and shelter.”

• From The Case That Shook India:

  “The role of money power in elections can be traced to … many excellent and meritorious candidates lose out … because they are either running as independents or are affiliated to smaller political parties.”

These quotes reflect consistent themes: the need for institutional integrity, citizen vigilance, and measured boldness in public discourse.

Lessons from Prashant Bhushan’s Life

From Bhushan’s journey and public service, we can draw several instructive lessons:

1. Courage to challenge authority
   Bhushan exemplifies that in a democracy, critique—even of powerful institutions—is not only allowed but vital for accountability.

2. Consistency over popularity
   His willingness to take unpopular stands (e.g. against judiciary while being a lawyer himself) suggests integrity over expedience.

3. Role of legal tools in social change
   Bhushan’s use of PILs, constitutional petitions, and public forums shows how legal devices can become levers for reform.

4. Importance of civil society
   True checks on power often emerge not from within institutions, but from mobilized citizens, pressure groups, and active public discussion.

5. Balance freedom and responsibility
   While advocating free speech and criticism, Bhushan’s controversies also caution about careful language and institutional respect.

Conclusion

Prashant Bhushan’s life is a compelling narrative of a lawyer-activist walking a tightrope between institutional respect and fearless dissent. Over decades, he has pushed the boundaries of what public interest law can accomplish—holding governments, courts, and systems to account. His journey is both inspiring and contested, revealing the tensions intrinsic to democracy.