MUMBAI: “We have laid the groundwork for a much broader application of principles,” said Supreme Court judge

. He was responding to a question about what more could the Supreme Court do on the way forward for marriage and parental rights for the

in India.

Talking about one of the most crucial verdicts by the SC—on

of the IPC, Justice Chandrachud on Friday answered one question that the community has been keen to know ever since. “The doctrine we have laid down will apply to cases that may come up in future,” he said explaining that what the court had decided on was the issue to decriminalise same sex consensual relationship.

He was speaking at a function, “Imagining freedom through Art”, organised by a corporate as part of a lecture series. “Art can itself be oppressive and enabling,” he remarked.

To a question from another legal giant, Zia Mody, on what he does and others can do to cut through the “noise” of “media trials”, he said, “The SC is handling so many sensitive cases. We can’t change the fact that media, social media is upon us. We have to develop a degree of detachment.” “Take your work seriously, not yourself. It will solve a lot of problem that concerns us judges, so it won’t allow all the noise to invade your mind,” he said. A large turnout of Mumbai’s art and cultural world turned out to listen to him.

“Judgment that gives most satisfaction is one that involves small issues of citizens and when you the smile of happiness on their face,” he said highlighting a short service naval woman officer’s case. Questions poured in for him.

“I wouldn’t like to talk about

because it is before us,” he said when asked but speaking in general he added, “In the abstract whether a case of a particular description must come to court, every citizen has a right to come to court concerning constitutional violation. It is a part of Indian process of access to justice in widest possible way.”

To a question from a member of the audience about how “one is very scared of going to court”, he said, “One of problem is delay. It hurts people without resources.”

“Our quest for freedom reflects a continuing yearning; a wish within our souls which illuminates our desire to be free. A daily reminder of how tenuous freedom can be, and even of its impermanence, is the sustenance which art brings to that quest. The message of freedom that art embodies is everlasting,” he concluded his speech.