India, Feb. 26 -- Citing an example of his daughter's Muslim friend being denied accommodation because of her religious identity, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of the Supreme Court said such instances show how far the country remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality. Justice Bhuyan, speaking at a seminar organised by the Telangana Judges' Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy, said constitutional morality must outweigh public morality, "even if it is the majoritarian view."

He also noted that although court costs in India are relatively low compared to other countries, associated expenses, including lawyers' fees, make it nearly impossible for ordinary citizens in remote areas to approach courts. He said constitutional...