In the two-part investigative series All in the Family, Apoorva Mandhani undertook an extensive examination of familial networks within India's higher judiciary, tracing the family legacies of 720 Supreme Court and High Court judges across generations and courts. Researched over several months, the investigation involved hundreds of conversations with reliable sources within the Supreme Court and various High Courts, alongside a painstaking analysis of publicly available records and institutional documents. Through meticulous verification and cross-verification, the series mapped familial relationships within the judiciary across decades, revealing the extent to which judicial office has often remained concentrated within a relatively small network of families. The investigation raised important questions about transparency, diversity, and representation within India's judicial appointments system. In a country where social and familial networks often shape access to institutions, the series examined how intergenerational representation within the judiciary could have implications for caste, regional diversity, and broader public confidence in the justice system. The series also highlighted longstanding concerns surrounding transparency in judicial appointments, an issue that advocates of judicial independence and judicial reform have consistently raised over the years. Within weeks of the publication of All in the Family, the Supreme Court, for the first time in its 75-year history, began publicly disclosing whether candidates recommended for elevation to High Courts were related to sitting or retired judges. Since then, the Court has continued to make such disclosures, marking a significant step towards greater transparency in the collegium system. Combining rigorous research, data-driven reporting, and institutional scrutiny, All in the Family exemplifies journalism's role in fostering transparency and accountability within democratic institutions.
Read the Story →Apoorva Mandhani is a Senior Assistant Editor at ThePrint, where she reports at the intersection of law, politics, and public policy. A trained lawyer, she brings a deep understanding of legal systems to her journalism, combining legal expertise with rigorous on-ground reporting to examine the functioning of public institutions, justice systems, and structures of power.
Originally from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Apoorva's journey into journalism reflects determination and perseverance. Raised in a conservative family where higher education for women was uncommon, she chose to chart her own path and pursued a career in journalism after completing her legal education.
She began her journalistic career with LiveLaw in 2014, at a time when the platform was still in its formative years, and played a significant role in establishing it as one of India's leading legal news portals. In 2019, she joined ThePrint, where she continues to produce impactful reportage on issues of law, governance, and public policy.
Apoorva's work has received wide recognition nationally and internationally. She is a recipient of the Justice Media Award 2025, the UNFPA-Laadli Media and Advertising Awards 2024, and the UNFPA-South Asia Laadli Media Awards 2024. She was also longlisted for the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons 2026 and was the runner-up for the Will of Steel Jethmalani Prize for Legal Journalism 2023. In addition, she has been honoured with the Indian National Bar Association's The Phenomenal She award, recognising exceptional women across diverse fields.
Beyond print journalism, Apoorva has expanded access to legal and constitutional literacy through innovative digital storytelling. She conceptualised and anchored KYC: Know Your Constitution in both English and Hindi on ThePrint's YouTube channel, making constitutional principles and complex legal issues accessible to wider audiences. The series has been widely appreciated and has found particular resonance in educational spaces across the country. She currently co-hosts the weekly Hindi programme Shekhar Se Sawal with ThePrint's Editor-in-Chief, Shekhar Gupta.
Former judge of the Supreme Court of India and currently serves as a judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji. Widely respected for his contributions to judicial reforms, human rights,…
Recognising journalism that reflects integrity, courage, empathy and truth.