Jairam Ramesh Shares Nehru's Rare Apology Letter to Supreme Court Judge
Jairam Ramesh lauds Nehru for 1959 apology letter to SC Judge Vivian Bose.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday invoked a little-known episode from 1959 to underscore what he described as Jawaharlal Nehru’s deep respect for democratic institutions. Sharing a historic letter on social media platform X, Ramesh described Nehru as an “extraordinary institution builder,” citing the former Prime Minister’s written apology to Supreme Court judge Vivian Bose.
The letter, dated June 26, 1959, was written after Nehru made certain remarks about Justice Bose during a press conference. In the correspondence, Nehru expressed “deep regret” and admitted that his comments were improper. He acknowledged that he should not have allowed himself to make such remarks and sought the judge’s forgiveness, calling his own conduct an “impropriety.”
Nehru explained that he had been travelling extensively at the time and had been taken by surprise by questions posed during the press interaction. He also referred to receiving a resolution from the Calcutta Bar disapproving of his statements. Promptly responding to the Bar and later writing directly to Justice Bose, Nehru conveyed that he fully recognised the importance of maintaining propriety in matters concerning the judiciary.
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Ramesh shared the letter to contribute to ongoing discussions about the relationship between the executive and the judiciary. By highlighting this episode, he suggested that Nehru set a precedent for institutional accountability and mutual respect between branches of government. The Congress leader argued that such gestures reflected Nehru’s commitment to democratic norms and constitutional values.
The resurfaced letter has sparked renewed debate over political conduct and the evolving dynamics between India’s executive and judiciary. Supporters view the episode as evidence of Nehru’s statesmanship and humility, while critics argue that historical actions must be viewed in the broader political context of the time. Nonetheless, the 1959 apology remains a notable instance of a sitting Prime Minister publicly acknowledging error in his remarks about a Supreme Court judge.
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