The Playwright as Prosecutor: Cross-Examining the Legal System in Galsworthy's Justice and Vijay Tendulkar's Silence! The Court is in Session

Abstract This research paper explores the intersection of jurisprudence and dramatic literature, positioning the playwright as a social prosecutor who indicts systemic oppression. Through a comparative analysis of John Galsworthy’s Justice and Vijay Tendulkar’s Silence! The Court is in Session, the study examines how formal state courts and informal societal tribunals inflict physical and psychological violence on vulnerable individuals. Grounded in Robert Cover’s theory that legal interpretation inherently produces pain, the research demonstrates how playwrights utilize the theatrical stage to re-humanize the accused and expose institutionalized cruelty. Ultimately, the paper highlights literature's power to catalyse legislative reform and cultural emancipation.