Constitution has kept Indiaunited during crisis: CJI

Time of India

31-05-2025

'Courts Must Reach Out To Every Citizen In Need'
Rajesh Kumar Pandey | tnn
Prayagraj: The Constitution of India has ensured that whenever the country has faced a crisis, it has remained united and strong, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said on Saturday.
Justice Gavai was speaking at the inauguration of the new advocate chambers and a multi-level parking facility at Allahabad high court. This marked his first official engagement as the CJI.
"When the Constitution was being drafted, some said it was too federal while some found it too unitary. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar replied that the Constitution was neither wholly federal nor wholly unitary. But one thing I can tell you is that we have given a Constitution which will keep India united and strong both in times of peace and war," said the CJI, adding, "Whenever there has been a crisis in the country, it has remained united and strong.
The credit for this should be given to the Constitution."
Crediting the Constitution for guiding India on the path of development, Justice Gavai said, "We can see what is the condition of our neighbouring countries while India is making a journey towards development."
In the 75-year journey of the Constitution, the legislature, executive and judiciary have contributed a lot in bringing social and economic equality, he said.
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"It is our fundamental duty to reach out to the last citizen of this country who needs justice. Be it the legislature, executive or judiciary, everyone has to reach out to that citizen," the CJI told the gathering.
Referring to the land reforms, he said some laws were brought under which land was taken from the landlord and given to the landless persons. "These laws were challenged from time to time. Before 1973, the Supreme Court's view was that if there is a conflict between the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights, then the Fundamental Rights will prevail."
"However, in 1973, a 13-judge bench ruled that Parliament has the right to amend the Constitution and for this, it can amend the Fundamental Rights, but it does not have the right to change the basic structure of the Constitution," he said. The 1973 bench also stated that both the Fundamental Rights and the Directives Principles are the soul of the Constitution, said Justice Gavai.
Justice Gavai also congratulated judicial officers involved in 'Operation Sindoor' and noted the significance of inaugurating the project on the birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
"She was a pioneer in social welfare, and it is our constitutional duty to reach the last citizen. The bar and the bench must work in unison to move the chariot of justice forward. Today, the Allahabad High Court has set a shining example -- a true role model," he said.
Allahabad HC Chief Justice Arun Bhansali in his welcome address said the newly constructed advocates' chambers and multi-level car parking building will redefine the working environment of this court.
"It's not just the inauguration of a building but affirmation of our collective efforts to a stronger and more accessible system of justice," he said.
Minister of State, Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal said one should learn from CM Yogi Adityanath how to complete projects quickly. He also praised the CM for the success of Maha Kumbh and said his work was appreciated all over the world.
Supreme Court's Justice Vikram Nath said, "Lawyers used to face a lot of problems due to the limited number of chambers and the new building will provide AC chambers to lawyers where they can meet their clients and do their work."
He further shared, "I was a member of the building committee of Allahabad HC and we were facing parking and chambers problems. Therefore, we decided to do something and this idea came up that by demolishing 12 official judges bunglow which was adjacent to High Court, we will get enough land to build chambers and parking for lawyers.
So I am personally very happy with the completion of this project."
Other apex court judges who attended the event included Justice Surya Kant, Justice JK Maheshwari, Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Manoj Mishra.
The advocate general of UP Ajay Kumar Misra and president of high court bar association (HCBA) president Anil Tiwari were also present.
Chairman of the building project committee, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, who is a senior high court judge, proposed a vote of thanks.
BOX
'Allahabad HC name inscribed in golden letters'
CJI BR Gavai described the Allahabad high court as a historic institution whose name is inscribed in "golden letters" in the judicial spectrum.
"It is my good fortune that my first programme as CJI is at the Allahabad HC. I have a long-standing and close relationship with Prayagraj. When I joined the Supreme Court in 2019, I formed deep personal bonds with Justices Vineet Saran, Krishna Murari, and later, Vikram Nath," he said.
He lauded the rich legacy of the city and the High Court, saying, "Allahabad is spoken of with immense respect. It has given the country stalwarts like Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru, and literary legends such as Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
The nation also salutes the contribution of freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, whose legacy lives on.
"
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'I thank CM for commitment to judiciary, public'
Praising the new infrastructure at Allahabad HC, Justice Gavai said, "The advocate chambers and multi-level parking facility are outstanding. As far as I know, no court in the world has a facility of this scale and quality. I thank Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his commitment not only to judges and lawyers but also to the common citizen."