The term Black Coat Syndrome has been making rounds since last two months in India for both a right reason and a wrong reason around the country's judiciary. The latest entry in this redefinition is India's 51st Chief Justice- Sanjeev Khanna.

Black Coat Syndrome is a Dog breed disorder

Yes, it is a redefinition- the original Black Coat Syndrome is not related to judiciary or the special forces but related to the dogs- mainly Black Russian Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers etc dogs with black furs.

Black Coat Syndrome @ Melanistic Masking Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting some dog breeds where they gradually develop an excessive production of eumelanin  causing their coat to darken and eventually turn black.

Did Sanjeev Khanna redefine Black Coat Syndrome?

On the occasion of the Human Rights Day on 10 December 2024, Sanjeev Khanna was delivering a speech in a program organized by NALSA, India's free national legal aid authority where he, according to various news reports tried to redefine the Black Coat Syndrome within the ambit of judiciary.

“Her (President Droupadi Murmu) timely observations have brought about critical focus to concerning phenomena of what I will call, and some others call, the “black coat syndrome”. In that syndrome, I'll include both the judges and the lawyers. The challenge reflects a deep-seated fear and alienation failed by the marginalized and the disadvantaged about our legal system. Her concerns extend further to the under-trial prisoners languishing in jails, underscoring the pressing need to transform our justice delivery system in favour of the most vulnerable”, - Sanjeev Khanna.

Sanjeev Khanna's redefinition is riddled with problems- from association to distortion:

1. Black Coat Syndrome is already defined, going by sociology he can't associate this name to any other phenomenon. Stockholm Syndrome can't be described in any other way, for example.
2. It is rather a redifinition that too by someone else- the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, very aptly, within the ambit of judiciary as 'Black Coat Syndrome in Judiciary'.
3. 'What I will call or some others call' is seriously misplaced by Sanjeev Khanna. He can't call what 'others' like President Murmu has already called aptly, 3 months before him, in the presence of his predecessor CJI DY Chandrachud.
4. President Murmu's definition of 'Black Coat Syndrome of Judiciary' is pinpointing rather than divisive and she didn't raise any political insinuation like victimizing the 'marginalized' communities, rather the poor and rural segment regardless of caste, creed and religion and not the biased perception of 'marginalized community'.
5. President Murmu's words were actually a scathing attack on the flawed judiciary of India right at the face of the former CJI DY Chandrachud.

President Droupadi Murmu defined 'Black Coat Syndrome of Judiciary'

On September 4, 2024; more than 3 months before Sanjeev Khanna's speech President Murmu in a very apt manner with complete regard to sociological principles, defined the Black Coat Syndrome of Judiciary.

She has taken an inspiration from the White Coat Syndrome in Hospitals wherein the patients' suffer hypertension seeing the doctors, anxious about the pain of medical treatment they might suffer or the possible outcome of the treatment.

President Murmu drew a parallel with the judicial system of India wherein people from poor and rural background get panicked by seeing judges and lawyers in black coats. President Murmu blamed the Judicial Luxury (defined by Mohantova) of the judges through adjournments and backlogs of the cases pending in the Indian courts of all stages. 

Profilian Verdict

Black Coat Syndrome is not defined by CJI Sanjeev Khanna, it was rather redefined as 'Black Coat Syndrome of Judiciary' by President Droupadi Murmu. Original Black Coat Syndrome is not related to judiciary but a health disorder of some dog breeds with black fur.