Mixed verdict on courting smiles

Scientifically speaking, a smile is nothing more than the voluntary exercise of the zygomaticus major muscle in conjunction with a few others located around our faces. But we humans lay great store by our ability to smile and for a long time believed we were the only creatures to be able to do so. Much has also been said about the curative and therapeutic value of that facial contraction, when backed by genuine empathy. Indeed, as a recently retired Supreme Court judge known for his beaming visage remarked at his farewell, “When you smile, all others smile at you. These join to become a mile of smiles and one feels life is worth a smile.” Miles of smiles, in fact, could well be the thinking behind the move of the government of Queensland in Australia to introduce cheery emojis on vehicle licence plates this month. And smiley emojis have already found place in at least one judgment.

It takes great gumption, of course, to attempt levity before the majesty of law, so the recent remark by our no-nonsense Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi that he is “not a diplomat or politician to please anyone with a smile” should be a pointer about the sensitivity of judicial funny bones. As diplomats do not generally have occasion to appear in court but politicians do, careful control of that zygomaticus major muscle may be advisable.