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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Directive principles serve as roadmap to ensure justice: CJI
Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Saturday said Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution were non-enforceable in courts but they served as a 'roadmap for legislators and executives to realise the promise of justice and equality'. Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and others during the 22nd Convocation of the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad on Saturday. (ANI) Delivering a lecture on 'Constitution of India: The contribution of BR Ambedkar' on the occasion of Constitutional Awareness Week at Tagore Auditorium in Osmania University, justice Gavai said Article 32, which empowers citizens to approach the Supreme Court in case of violation of fundamental rights, was the heart and soul of the Constitution. The CJI admitted that the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution were non-enforceable in courts but they served as the moral compass of governance. 'They are not just empty words; they serve as a roadmap for legislators and executives to realise the promise of justice and equality,' he said. Stating that there was a historical conflict between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles, he referred to the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, where the Supreme Court clarified that both must work in harmony as twin pillars of constitutional governance. He described the Constitution as an instrument of social and economic transformation, as envisioned by Ambedkar. 'The Constitution is very dear to my heart,' the CJI said and explained its journey from the Objective Resolution in 1946 to its adoption in 1949. He credited Dr Ambedkar's leadership and intellectual rigour in shaping the foundational document of modern India. He noted that while the Constitution of India was influenced by global models, it was tailored uniquely to India's needs, creating a single, unified legal framework unlike the dual systems seen in countries like the US. 'Ours is a strong federal structure with one Constitution applicable to all states and citizens,' he said. Justice Gavai encouraged law graduates to uphold constitutional values and cautioned against pursuing foreign degrees under peer pressure, stressing the need to invest in and strengthen India's legal education system. 'Excellence lies in strong foundations, not just foreign credentials,' he advised. Speaking on the occasion, justice Sujoy Paul, acting chief justice of Telangana high court, recalled Ambedkar's words that however good the Constitution may be, it can fail if those who implement it are not good. 'Likewise, even a bad Constitution can work well with good people.' He noted how the Constitution, once criticised as being overly long and rigid, has proven remarkably resilient over 75 years. 'We, the people of India, adopted, enacted, and gave ourselves this Constitution. And we, the people, are also its keepers,' he added. 'Indian legal system badly in need of fixing' Earlier, delivering the 22nd annual convocation address of the NALSAR University of Law at Shamirpet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the Chief Justice of India said that the Indian legal system has been facing unique challenges and is badly in need of fixing. 'The country and its legal system are facing unique challenges like delays in trials which can sometimes go for decades. In certain cases, someone has been found innocent after spending years in jail as an under trial. It is badly in need of fixing,' he said. He, however, said he was optimistic that his fellow citizens would rise to the occasion to meet the challenges. 'We must build nurturing academic environments, offer transparent and merit-based opportunities, and most importantly, restore dignity and purpose to legal research and training in India,' the CJI said. He pointed out that it was not just enough to celebrate India's legal legacy but one must invest in its future, not only in institutions but in imagination, in mentorship programs, research fellowships, local innovation ecosystems and ethical workplaces that make the best minds want to stay or return. 'That future depends on how we treat our researchers, our young faculty and lawyers. Our best talent can help us resolve the problems that we are facing,' he said. Justice Gavai advised the passing out graduates to seek mentors for the sake of integrity and not for their power. Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and Supreme Court judge Justice P S Narasimha also participated, while acting Telangana acting CJ justice Sujoy Paul presided.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
