4 days ago
Ensure justice reaches the last and most needy citizen: CJI Gavai
Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai called upon the three branches of the government — Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, the academia and all stakeholders to strive to achieve the goal of the Constitution, which is to 'economic, social and political justice, and ensure justice reaches the last and the most needy citizen in the country'.
While delivering a lecture here at Tagore Auditorium, Osmania University, on 'Constitution of India: The contribution of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar', on Saturday, Justice Gavai recollected the journey, insights and the foresight that shaped the Constitution.
In his concise 15-minute lecture, he explained Dr. Ambedkar's philosophy about the Constitution, its strength in keeping the country united in times of war and peace, Article 32 (Right to Constitutional Remedies) as the most important article, Directive Principles of the Constitution as the soul, the initial conflict between Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights, constitutional mechanism, and the criticism it drew.
He cited the First Amendment and Tamil Nadu's reservation policy, the Supreme Court's landmark case heard by a 13-judge Bench in 1973 on the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution, and State of Kerala vs. N.M. Thomas of 1976 on reservation policies in public employment for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Confessing paucity of time, he, however, said he wishes to return to the university after November to talk about the Constitution in greater detail.
Supreme Court Judge Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Advocate General (Telangana) A. Sudarshan Reddy, both hailing from Hyderabad and alumni of Osmania University, expressed happiness about the lecture. They recollected Dr. Ambedkar's connection to Osmania University and Hyderabad in the anti-caste movement, and then Nizam's admiration and offer to him to be the Chief Justice of Hyderabad.
Chief Justice of Telangana High Court Sujoy Paul, OU Vice-Chancellor Kumar Molugaram, leaders, senior officials of the Bar Council, vice chancellors of various universities, and others were present.
Special postal cover
Justice Gavai unveiled a special postal cover titled 'Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar – Constituent Assembly – Constitution of India' along with a set of picture postcards on 'Art and Calligraphy in the Constitution of India'. The cover and postcards were officially handed over to the Chief Justice by P.V.S. Reddy, Chief Postmaster General of Telangana.
Designed as a tribute to Ambedkar's role in framing the Constitution of India, the cover offers a vivid visual and textual narrative of his life, contributions to the Constituent Assembly, and the legacy he left behind.
