What happens when those manning the highest echelons of our judiciary offer views outside the courts on how the policymakers must go about doing their job?...The Chief Justice of India HL Dattu spoke on land acquisition aspects at a conference saying two significant things: First, that if the agricultural land being acquired by State Governments for the purpose of handing over to the corporate sector is minimised, it could help the agricultural community to a large extent...Second, when the sovereign state takes land, give the farmer “not just compensation, but something more than compensation...These utterances by the CJI are indicative of a worrying trend of late where sitting judges offer gratuitous comments which are as seriously taken by the public as written orders having the force of law.