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Unsealed Covers: A Decade of the Constitution, the Courts and the State
In Unsealed Covers , Gautam Bhatia provides a snapshot of the Indian judiciary between 2014 and 2023.
The 2014 general election saw the installation of the first majority non-coalition government in many decades (the NDA). The 2019 general election saw its return with a greater majority. It is commonly accepted that the NDA years have generated significant conflict within and around various democratic institutions meant to act as checks and balances against majoritarian power.
One of the most important theatres of conflict has been the judiciary-in particular, the Supreme Court. Critics have distinguished the Supreme Court's past assertive record with its quiescent and sometimes facilitative attitude towards the NDA government(s). Unsealed Covers provides a unique terrain where the actions of the judiciary and its relationship with the government are examined in terms of evolution and chronology. It also comments on some of the most important judgments of the past decade.
The 2014 general election saw the installation of the first majority non-coalition government in many decades (the NDA). The 2019 general election saw its return with a greater majority. It is commonly accepted that the NDA years have generated significant conflict within and around various democratic institutions meant to act as checks and balances against majoritarian power.
One of the most important theatres of conflict has been the judiciary-in particular, the Supreme Court. Critics have distinguished the Supreme Court's past assertive record with its quiescent and sometimes facilitative attitude towards the NDA government(s). Unsealed Covers provides a unique terrain where the actions of the judiciary and its relationship with the government are examined in terms of evolution and chronology. It also comments on some of the most important judgments of the past decade.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2023
32 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Gautam Bhatia
16 books977 followersGautam Bhatia is an Indian science fiction writer.
He is the author of the SF Duology, The Wall and The Horizon, both of which featured on Locus Magazine's Recommended Reading Lists in 2021 (Best Debut Novel) and 2022 (Best Science Fiction Novel). The Wall was a finalist for the 2021 Valley of Words Best English Language Novel Prize. Bhatia was long-listed for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer at both the 2021 World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon), and the 2022 WorldCon.
Bhatia is also the co-ordinating editor of Strange Horizons, a weekly online magazine of fantasy and science fiction, which won the British Fantasy Award in 2021, and has been a finalist for the Hugo Awards every year since 2013. In 2022, he was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for his work with the magazine.
His reviews and essays on science fiction and fantasy have appeared in Strange Horizons, The Hindustan Times, Scroll, and The Wire.
In his spare time, he is a lawyer.
He is the author of the SF Duology, The Wall and The Horizon, both of which featured on Locus Magazine's Recommended Reading Lists in 2021 (Best Debut Novel) and 2022 (Best Science Fiction Novel). The Wall was a finalist for the 2021 Valley of Words Best English Language Novel Prize. Bhatia was long-listed for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer at both the 2021 World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon), and the 2022 WorldCon.
Bhatia is also the co-ordinating editor of Strange Horizons, a weekly online magazine of fantasy and science fiction, which won the British Fantasy Award in 2021, and has been a finalist for the Hugo Awards every year since 2013. In 2022, he was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for his work with the magazine.
His reviews and essays on science fiction and fantasy have appeared in Strange Horizons, The Hindustan Times, Scroll, and The Wire.
In his spare time, he is a lawyer.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 8, 2025
I’ve always considered Gautam Bhatia’s blog - ICLP - an authority on constitutional law, and have enjoyed how he breaks down judgements. This book is essentially a collection of his blog posts till late 2022, curated by subject matter.
For those of you who would enjoy reading short, sharp and analytical pieces on constitutional law (or philosophy) but don’t know where to start, this book is perfect. It focuses on subjects ranging from personal rights to observations on the Supreme Court’s movement as an institution. Less a single consolidated and reflective piece and more in the nature of a series of contemporaneous posts on questions of the constitution, Bhatia’s engaging and “adversarial” analysis makes the jurisprudence come alive.
For a lawyer near-disillusioned with the Courts in light of recent trends, this book was an important reminder and almost a call to action.
(4.5/5 🌟)
For those of you who would enjoy reading short, sharp and analytical pieces on constitutional law (or philosophy) but don’t know where to start, this book is perfect. It focuses on subjects ranging from personal rights to observations on the Supreme Court’s movement as an institution. Less a single consolidated and reflective piece and more in the nature of a series of contemporaneous posts on questions of the constitution, Bhatia’s engaging and “adversarial” analysis makes the jurisprudence come alive.
For a lawyer near-disillusioned with the Courts in light of recent trends, this book was an important reminder and almost a call to action.
(4.5/5 🌟)
January 19, 2026
2026 year in books starts with a bang. Gautam bhatia is an ultimate authority on constitutional law and this book is a testament to it. His blog is a gold mine for anyone who has interest in the constitution or courts. He presents complicated cases in such a way that a person with minimal legal knowledge understand and widen his/her horizons as a well informed citizens. The book is a compilation of about 50 blogpost that he has posted from 2014 to 2023. Mr. Bhatia has traced the workings of the apex court and how the court has developed new and innovative doctrines. The book takes us on a journey through the heart of constitutional questions which are more relevant now than ever before. Topics covered includes, Reservation, socio-economic rights, migration, kashmir , war zones and the most relevant UAPA. He does a profile of all the cji's during this period and makes for a wonderful read. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2023
In this magnum opus, Mr. Bhatia meticulously unravels the intricate tapestry of legal discourse, offering readers a perspicacious journey through the annals of constitutional evolution. His lexicon, redolent with intellectual gravity, serves as a potent instrument, intricately carving out the subtle nuances inherent in the interplay of constitutional principles, judicial pronouncements, and the machinery of the state.
The author's understanding manifests in his nuanced lexical choices, which confer profound gravitas upon the narrative. Mr. Bhatia navigates the intellectual landscape with finesse, employing polysyllabic dexterity to dissect complex legal concepts and doctrinal developments. This linguistic finesse adds a layer of sophistication to the narrative and invites readers into a cerebral engagement, demanding a discerning comprehension of the intricacies expounded.
The author's understanding manifests in his nuanced lexical choices, which confer profound gravitas upon the narrative. Mr. Bhatia navigates the intellectual landscape with finesse, employing polysyllabic dexterity to dissect complex legal concepts and doctrinal developments. This linguistic finesse adds a layer of sophistication to the narrative and invites readers into a cerebral engagement, demanding a discerning comprehension of the intricacies expounded.
September 6, 2023
First few pages and I wish I had been a better informed citizen and lawyer.
The book is divided into three parts. Part One deals with rights and covers a huge range from personal liberty to privacy, from social justice and reservations to socioeconomic rights
Part Two deals with federalism, anti-defection, and fourth branch institutions.
Part Three deals with the judiciary and judges, in particular Chief Justices.
If you want to understand various judges of SC & their styles, this book is perfect for you..
The book is divided into three parts. Part One deals with rights and covers a huge range from personal liberty to privacy, from social justice and reservations to socioeconomic rights
Part Two deals with federalism, anti-defection, and fourth branch institutions.
Part Three deals with the judiciary and judges, in particular Chief Justices.
If you want to understand various judges of SC & their styles, this book is perfect for you..
January 25, 2024
A great fast read that is as engaging as it is informative. Lot of my questions regarding why a lot of these important cases have not been decided has been satisfactorily answered though there is nothing satisfactory in the answers themselves. Would recccomend if you are interested in knowing the happenings at our supreme court in recent times.
March 22, 2024
The author emphatically discusses the importance of coordination or lack of it or coercion between the three pillars of democracy legislative, executive and judiciary highlighting some significant happenings/court dramas since 2014 all the time evincing his bias that rights without remedy is anathema to democracy..
September 28, 2023
It took longer than normal to get through this book but it was worth it. Apart from the quick recap of my law school days and the court-cases we saw and analysed on the news, this book also served as a lesson in terse, measured and logical writing.
This would have been a 4-star book if not for the overly deferential treatment given to the actions and judgements of the present CJI and the then Justice of the Supreme Court of India, D.Y. Chandrachud. It also is only a curated collection of essays from the IndConLawPhil blog that Bhatia runs.
Things I loved about the book and the essays, in particular, was the logical consistency and clear writing. Bhatia does not hide under any false pretenses and gives us exactly what he's thinking as a power-sceptic. He does not like agglomeration of power, no matter where it takes place, in the government or the judiciary. His intellectual honesty and consistency in this thread is striking. His essays deal with Rights, Constitutional Structure and the Judiciary including his much publicised critiques of the last few CJIs of the Supreme Court. A common thread is also his commitment to individual rights which he prioritises over "amorphous" terms such as public and national interest.
One thing I found noteworthy and even a cause of admiration is Bhatia's commitment to reason and his placing of "rule of law" as a value. His writings largely echo the theme of the Constitutional rule of law that should exist even if the Courts, the State and everyone else may disregard it. For these two reasons, Bhatia is someone I would read and engage with further even if I disagree with his specific instincts and bias against entrenched power. Unsealed Covers is indeed an eye-opening critique and review of the Supreme Court in the last 10 years.
This would have been a 4-star book if not for the overly deferential treatment given to the actions and judgements of the present CJI and the then Justice of the Supreme Court of India, D.Y. Chandrachud. It also is only a curated collection of essays from the IndConLawPhil blog that Bhatia runs.
Things I loved about the book and the essays, in particular, was the logical consistency and clear writing. Bhatia does not hide under any false pretenses and gives us exactly what he's thinking as a power-sceptic. He does not like agglomeration of power, no matter where it takes place, in the government or the judiciary. His intellectual honesty and consistency in this thread is striking. His essays deal with Rights, Constitutional Structure and the Judiciary including his much publicised critiques of the last few CJIs of the Supreme Court. A common thread is also his commitment to individual rights which he prioritises over "amorphous" terms such as public and national interest.
One thing I found noteworthy and even a cause of admiration is Bhatia's commitment to reason and his placing of "rule of law" as a value. His writings largely echo the theme of the Constitutional rule of law that should exist even if the Courts, the State and everyone else may disregard it. For these two reasons, Bhatia is someone I would read and engage with further even if I disagree with his specific instincts and bias against entrenched power. Unsealed Covers is indeed an eye-opening critique and review of the Supreme Court in the last 10 years.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews