Constitution has its place from courts to remote villages: CJI
It has met the challenges of the nation’s diverse society, says Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud; stresses that fraternity is vital to maintain equality
hief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Saturday laid emphasis on the constitutional values of liberty, equality and fraternity for ensuring the nation’s unity and progress, and said the Constitution’s learning should reach the villages across the country. “Our Constitution has its place from the court’s corridors to the remote villages. It is not limited to books alone,” the CJI said.
Justice Chandrachud inaugurated a regional ‘Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman’ (Our Constitution, Our Honour) campaign at Maharaja Ganga Singh University’s auditorium in Bikaner to enhance awareness about the Constitution and the citizens’ rights and duties, and commemorate the 75th year of India as a republic.
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court M.M. Shrivastava were among those present at the event.
Chief Justice Chandrachud said the basic rights,
Csuch as daily wages, pension, clean water, ration, health care and education, flowed from the Constitution, which had met the challenges of the country’s diverse society and given dignity to the people. Mutual fraternity was necessary to maintain equality in the country, he added.
The CJI quoted B.R. Ambedkar’s speech in the Constituent Assembly, pointing out that the Constitution was not a mere lawyers’ document, but was a vehicle of life, and its spirit was always the spirit of age.
“The Constitution reflects our collective aspirations... We are committed to the rule of law and protection of human rights because of the Constitution,” he said.
Referring to the technological advancements being applied to judicial institutions, Justice Chandrachud said that while the Supreme Court had started hearing cases through videoconferencing, the potential of technology was being utilised to spread legal awareness and strengthen legal services as well. A lawyer sitting in any part of the country could argue his case in the courts situated elsewhere, he said.
“The Supreme Court has worked to enhance its capacity through technology. The district courts are also being sensitised, as they constitute the first step towards justice,” the Chief Justice said.