FAKE ALERT: Punya Prasun Bajpai makes false claim of SC altering its motto, realizes mistake later

CLAIM

TRUTH

VERIFICATION AND METHODOLOGY

आपने सही कहा...हाई कोर्ट और भारत सरकार के चिन्ह में सत्यमेव जयते का ज़िक्र है... सुप्रीम कोर्ट में पहले से ।।यतो… https://t.co/OCqkMkfV2G — punya prasun bajpai (@ppbajpai) 1597990064000

VERDICT

Journalist Punya Prasun Bajpai put out a tweet claiming that the Supreme Court (SC) of India has changed its motto from ‘ Satyameva Jayate ’ (truth alone triumphs) to ‘Yato Dharma Tato Jaya’ (where there is dharma, there will be victory). Bajpai posted two photos to make this claim.These photos were picked up by several other Twitter users who used them to make the same claim.SC hasn’t changed its motto or symbol. It’s motto has always been ‘Yato Dharma Tato Jaya’.Going through the history of SC on its official website, we found no mention of its motto being ‘Satyameva Jayate’ ever.Times Fact Check then got in touch with senior lawyer ML Lahoti, who has been practicing in SC for the last 45 years.“Since the time I have been practicing, SC has always had its motto ‘Yato Dharma Tato Jaya’. In every courtroom, behind the judge’s chair, I have seen the same symbol of SC ever since I remember. As far as my knowledge goes, SC has always had the same symbol and motto since India’s independence,” Lahoti told Times Fact Check.We also found a blog titled ‘Supreme Court of India’s Logo’, which mentions that the logo of the SC is the Ashoka Chakra. However, unlike India’s National Emblem, where ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is inscribed below; in the logo of SC, the following words have been inscribed: ‘Yato Dharma Tato Jaya’.The phrase comes from Mahabharata , where on the battlefield of Kurukshetra war, Arjuna tries to shake the despondency of Yudhisthira by saying that "victory is ensured for the side standing with Dharma, where Lord Krishna is, there is victory".After several users pointed to Bajpai that the claim was false, he deleted his tweet and put out a clarification.Times Fact Check has found that the claim of SC altering its motto and logo is false.