Justice Datta underscored that the significance of a judicial opinion should not be assessed solely in the context of the immediate controversy, as the Court’s observations could have implications well beyond the present case. Referring specifically to judicial appointments, he said it was necessary to address what he described as a widespread misconception. According to him, the frequently repeated claim that “judges appoint judges” is a myth that has been propagated through what he termed vested interests and motivated narratives, often drawing from controversial decisions concerning the appointment of judges in India.
