Baharul Islam’s journey from a judge in the apex court to a Rajya Sabha member is marked by judicial integrity, dignity and commitment
NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Nishikant Dubey, has recently sparked a controversy by attacking the judiciary and specifically targeting former Supreme Court judge Baharul Islam. Dubey’s remarks came amid heated debates over the Waqf law in the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna reprimanded the central government for mishandling the issue. Instead of focusing on the legal arguments, Dubey chose to launch a political attack on Congress by dragging Baharul Islam’s name into the fray.
Baharul Islam’s story is far more than the political jabs by BJP leaders. Born on 1 January 1918 in Assam, he rose from humble beginnings to become a respected figure both in India’s judiciary and political landscape. Initially a lawyer, he was appointed a judge in the Guwahati High Court in 1972, gaining recognition for his fair and impartial judicial decisions.
His judicial career reached a peak when he was appointed a Supreme Court judge in 1980. However, it was in 1983 that Baharul Islam made headlines when he resigned from the Supreme Court and transitioned into politics, winning a Rajya Sabha seat as a Congress MP representing Assam.
Dubey’s Twitter comments attempt to paint Baharul Islam as a ‘sycophant’ of Congress, citing his multiple Rajya Sabha memberships and judicial appointments as evidence of political favouritism. Dubey wrote: “The Congress could not find a bigger sycophant than him… Without making him resign from the Rajya Sabha, he was made a high court judge in 1972… Congress retired him from the Supreme Court in 1983 and made him a Rajya Sabha member again.”
But this narrow political narrative ignores Baharul Islam’s broader contributions. He is remembered for his judgments, including acquitting Bihar’s then chief minister Jagannath Mishra in a corruption case — a decision that stirred political debate but reflected judicial independence and legal scrutiny, not political bias.
A senior advocate from Assam, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Baharul Islam was a jurist who walked a difficult path between law and politics. His decisions were based on legal merit, not party lines. Attempts to discredit him politically only serve to undermine respect for the judiciary.”
Islam also played an important role beyond courtrooms. He worked tirelessly to raise educational awareness among Assam’s Muslim community, helping to bridge gaps in social development.
Critics of the BJP’s attacks argue that such statements aim to distract from pressing issues like minority rights and communal harmony. A community leader from Assam said, “When the Waqf law is questioned, the real focus should be on protecting Muslim heritage and rights. Instead, some politicians are busy stoking divisions and undermining those who stood for justice.”
Baharul Islam’s life reflects the complexity of serving both as a judge and a politician in a country as diverse as India. His journey from the courts to Parliament underscores the significant roles Indian Muslims have played in shaping the nation’s legal and political fabric.
