Tareekh Pe Justice by Prashant Reddy and Chitrakshi Jain, published on 13 March 2025, is a powerful and eye-opening book that highlights the real problems in India’s district courts. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why the Indian justice system struggles at the ground level. Written with clarity and backed by strong research, Tareekh Pe Justice shows how our justice system struggles to deliver fair and timely justice to common people. The book highlights the real stories of district court judges who face pressure, delays, and even punishment for doing the right thing. In Tareekh Pe Justice, the authors go beyond the usual reasons like lack of funds or too few judges. Instead, they explain how the system itself makes it hard for honest judges to work freely. The book shares real stories of judges who suffered for giving fair decisions, which makes Tareekh Pe Justice not just informative but also very moving.
If you have ever wondered why cases drag on for years or why people lose trust in the courts, then Tareekh Pe Justice will give you clear answers.Italso suggests strong ideas to fix the system. From improving court management to bringing back jury trials, the book offers fresh and bold solutions. Clear writing, solid facts, and honest analysis make Tareekh Pe Justice an important book for citizens, law students, and policy makers.
Book Availability and Purchase Options
Tareekh Pe Justice: Reforms for India’s District Courts by Prashant Reddy andChitrakshi Jain, which was published on 13 March 2025 by Simon & Schuster India and is available in English language. The hardcover edition is priced at ₹518, while the Kindle version is available for ₹337. You can find and purchase the book from major online platforms such as Amazon India, Simon & Schuster’s official website, and M&J Services, making it easily accessible for readers across the country. The book is available for purchase on Amazon India and Amazon US, and has been reviewed by legal professionals and scholars for its insightful analysis of India’s judicial system. Buy the Kindle edition for a more affordable, portable, and instantly accessible reading experience.
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About the Authors of Tareekh Pe Justice
Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu is a distinguished legal scholar and author, renowned for his incisive analyses of India’s legal and regulatory frameworks. An alumnus of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and Stanford Law School, California, where he was a J.N. Tata Scholar, he has combined academic rigor with practical experience in his career.
In his professional journey, Prashant has worked with litigation teams at two Delhi-based law firms specializing in intellectual property law. His academic contributions include stints at the National Academy for Legal Studies & Research (NALSAR) and the School of Law at Singapore Management University.
Prashant’s literary works reflect his commitment to legal reform and public policy. He co-authored Create, Copy, Disrupt: India’s Intellectual Property Dilemmas (Oxford University Press, 2017), which delves into the complexities of India’s IP laws. In collaboration with Dinesh Thakur, he penned The Truth Pill: The Myth of Drug Regulation in India (Simon & Schuster, 2022), exposing critical issues in India’s pharmaceutical regulatory system.
His latest work, Tareekh Pe Justice: Reforms for India’s District Courts, co-authored with Chitrakshi Jain, offers a comprehensive examination of the challenges facing India’s district judiciary and proposes actionable reforms to enhance its efficiency and integrity. Beyond his publications, Prashant has actively engaged in policy advocacy, notably advising Dinesh Thakur in campaigns aimed at reforming India’s drug regulatory laws.
Chitrakshi Jain is a legal researcher and co-author of Tareekh Pe Justice: Reforms for India’s District Courts. Together with Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu, she examines the systemic issues within India’s district judiciary and proposes solutions to enhance its efficiency and fairness.
Through his multifaceted career, Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu continues to influence and contribute significantly to discussions on legal reform and public policy in India.
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Central Themes of Tareekh Pe Justice
- The Crisis in District Courts: Tareekh Pe Justice shows how India’s district courts, which handle the largest number of cases, are struggling due to poor systems, outdated procedures, and lack of support. The book highlights how this failure directly affects the common people who depend on these courts for justice.
- Fear of Granting Bail: A Broken System: Tareekh Pe Justice is the growing fear among district judges when it comes to granting bail. The book explains how even though judges are supposed to work independently, many are scared of disciplinary action if they give bail in sensitive cases. A shocking example is from Uttar Pradesh, where a district judge granted bail in a murder case. He was later accused of taking a bribe, even though no solid evidence was found. Still, he was demoted, and it took him six years to clear his name. Tareekh Pe Justice shows how such fear creates a situation where judges start denying bail not based on law, but to protect their careers causing unnecessary jail time for thousands.
- Lack of Judicial Protection for the Lower Courts: Tareekh Pe Justice explains that judges in lower courts do not have the same protections as those in the High Courts and Supreme Court. The book shows how High Courts can start secret disciplinary inquiries against district judges, often based on weak or hearsay evidence. One example from Bihar is deeply troubling that a judge was punished by cutting his pension after he gave bail in a serious criminal case. After years of legal battle, his pension was restored by the High Court, but only after 14 years since the enquiry began. These stories in Tareekh Pe Justice prove that district judges are vulnerable, and that this weakens the justice system as a whole.
- Invisible Foot Soldiers of Justice: The authors of Tareekh Pe Justice make a powerful point: most books and reforms talk about top courts and big lawyers, but ignore the actual starting point of justice, the district courts. These trial courts are where the common person goes for justice. The book describes how courtrooms are often small, overcrowded, and lacking basic facilities. But these are the spaces where the most meaningful legal battles take place. This bookbrings the stories of trial judges and lawyers to the centre of the reform conversation and demands they get the attention and respect they deserve.
- Flawed Evaluation of Judges: In Tareekh Pe Justice, the authors sharply criticize how judges are evaluated based only on the number of cases they finish, not on the quality of their decisions. This “numbers game” encourages fast judgments instead of fair ones. The book argues that skills like empathy, patience, and ethical thinking are the traits that make a good judge but now they are not even measured. This makes the whole process of judicial evaluation unfair and harmful. Tareekh Pe Justice calls for a better system that looks at both the heart and the mind of a judge.
- Harmful and Frequent Transfers: Tareekh Pe Justice is the damage caused by frequent transfers of judges. The authors argue that judges are often moved just when they are beginning to understand the cases in their court. This causes huge delays in the justice system and hurts the people waiting for decisions. The book clearly explains that while rotation of judges may sound good in theory, in practice, it often leads to disruption and inefficiency.
- Mismanagement of Judicial Funds: Tareekh Pe Justice raises serious concerns about how public money meant for judicial reform is being wasted. For example, over ₹2,000 crore was spent on a digitization project that, according to the book, failed to deliver real improvements. The authors ask tough questions: Why was this money not used to improve basic court infrastructure or judge training? Why is there no accountability? These are vital points made in Tareekh Pe Justice, especially in a country where courts still struggle with broken chairs, poor lighting, and basic delays.
- Broken Judicial Data Systems: Accurate data is the backbone of any reform, but Tareekh Pe Justice shows how even this is a mess. The authors explain that judicial statistics are unreliable and cases are often counted more than once, which distorts pendency numbers. Without proper data, policymakers cannot understand what is wrong or how to fix it. The book says this is one of the first things that needs to change if we want real reform.
- Rethinking the Jury System: In a bold move, Tareekh Pe Justice reopens the idea of reintroducing jury trials in India. While many experts believe that juries will not work due to illiteracy or bias, the book argues that involving citizens directly in the justice system can increase public trust and transparency. Though the authors acknowledge that it may not work everywhere or right away, they believe it deserves a serious discussion. This bookdoes not push a single solution, but encourages thinking beyond the usual limits.
- The Importance of Procedural Law: Tareekh Pe Justice warns against the steady weakening of procedural laws in recent years. These laws though technical which are meant to ensure fairness. Without them, justice becomes random and depends too much on individual judges. The book argues that even a bad system can give good results if the procedures are strong. It reminds us that law is not just about outcomes, but about how those outcomes are reached. Procedural safeguards, the authors argue, protect both the innocent and the guilty by ensuring a fair process.
- Strong Writing and Well-Backed Research: One of the best things about Tareekh Pe Justice is that it is easy to read yet deeply insightful. The authors avoid complicated language and legal jargon. Instead, they use real stories, court cases, and data to explain serious problems in the system. Whether you are a lawyer, student, judge, or just a concerned citizen, this bookmakes you understand and care about the future of India’s courts.
- A Rare Balance Between Research and Readability: One standout feature of Tareekh Pe Justice is how it manages to strike a rare balance between being deeply researched and still easy to read. Academic writing is often heavy and hard to follow, but this book keeps things simple without dumbing them down. The authors use real-life stories, solid data, and clear arguments to keep the reader engaged throughout. This makes this bookaccessible to everyone and not for just legal experts. It is the kind of book that informs you while also making you care, which is no small feat when discussing legal reform.
- A Call for Urgent Institutional Reforms: Tareekh Pe Justice sends a powerful message to the higher judiciary, especially the Supreme Court: if reforms do not begin soon, public trust in the justice system may collapse. The authors argue that the problems of delay and injustice are not just administrative failures but signs of a broken structure. They emphasize that Tareekh Pe Justice is not just about pointing fingers but about offering concrete, workable solutions. It is a book that does not just explain what wrong it is but also pushes us to fix it, before it is too late.
Why You Should Read and Buy: Tareekh Pe Justice
If you have ever wondered why justice is delayed in India’s courts, or why honest judges are often silenced or punished, then Tareekh Pe Justice is the book you need to read. It does not just talk about the problems, but it explains them in plain language, backed with real-life stories and solid facts. The book shows how brave judges face career damage for doing the right thing and how our trial courts are burdened by outdated systems, lack of support, and fear.
It is very rare to come across academic writing that is both precise and highly engaging. The authors have skillfully combined data with thought-provoking insights, resulting in a powerful and compelling narrative. This book is bound to spark reflection and meaningful conversation. Tareekh Pe Justice is not written just for lawyers or judges instead it is meant for every citizen who wants to understand how the justice system really works, and why it needs urgent reform. The authors offer practical solutions that can help improve the system and restore public trust.
Whether you care about fairness, the rule of law, or just want to know why your case in court is taking forever, it will leave you thinking and asking the right questions.
Final Thoughts
Tareekh Pe Justice is not just a book, it is a wake-up call for all who care about justice in India. It shows us that unless we fix the problems in our district courts, justice in India will remain painfully slow and unfair. By focusing on the challenges of honest judges, bad data, broken evaluation systems, and poor planning, the book urges all of us, citizens, lawyers, and policymakers to act. Reforming justice starts from the ground up, and it gives us a clear and urgent roadmap.
