At a felicitation event hosted by the Bar Council of India (BCI), Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B R Gavai delivered a compelling address, highlighting the essential role of judges in understanding and responding to the realities of society.
The BCI organised the function on Saturday in the national capital to honour Justice Gavai, the 52nd CJI, following his recent appointment.
Justice Gavai emphasised that today’s judiciary cannot afford to interpret legal matters in rigid black-and-white terms while overlooking the complexities of human experiences. He recounted his initial hesitation in accepting a judgeship, recalling how his father had advised that continuing as a lawyer would bring financial success. However, he also pointed out that serving as a judge in a constitutional court would allow him to uphold Dr B R Ambedkar’s vision of social and economic justice.
Having chosen to follow his father’s counsel, Justice Gavai reflected with satisfaction on his 22-year tenure as a High Court judge and six years as a Supreme Court judge. He asserted that he had always endeavoured to contribute meaningfully to the judicial system.
The CJI stressed that isolation is not a viable approach for those in the judiciary, dismissing the idea that Supreme Court judges should remain detached from the public. He has long advocated for inclusivity in judicial appointments, promoting the representation of marginalised communities and women.
He recalled a significant conference attended by former CJI D Y Chandrachud and various High Court Chief Justices, during which Chandrachud had urged the consideration of candidates from underrepresented sections of society for judicial roles. Acknowledging the difficulties in identifying suitable women candidates for certain positions, Justice Gavai encouraged Chief Justices to look to highly skilled female advocates from the Supreme Court pool. He expressed confidence that these efforts would soon bear visible results.
Justice Gavai also drew attention to the pressing issue of judicial vacancies, noting their substantial contribution to case pendency. He reaffirmed the Collegium’s commitment to reducing these vacancies and called on the executive branch to adopt a cooperative stance to expedite appointments. His vision for a more efficient and responsive judiciary focused on collaboration among all branches of governance.
He concluded his address by sharing a milestone—the first appointment he approved as CJI was of a judge from an extremely marginalised community in Karnataka. This decision, he stressed, reflects his deep commitment to social justice and his belief that the judiciary must mirror the diversity of the society it serves.
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