Constitution Day 2022: What Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said in his address

On the occasion of Constitution Day, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud advised all judges in India, from those in district courts to the top court, to reflect on securing the constitutional vision of securing liberty, equality and fraternity of citizens..The CJI opined that until judges open their minds to people with vivid life experiences, they would be failing in their role."An institution thrives with time only when it functions democratically. I believe as Chief Justice of India, it is my responsibility to consult judges in the Supreme Court, High Courts and district judiciary.".Story of the Constitution.CJI Chandrachud explained that the story of the Indian Constitution was not simply the story of a legal text, but one of human struggle and sacrifice."It is a story of undoing injustice for the marginalised, the women, the Dalits and the disabled.".He continued to explain that the first wave of resistance against colonial power came from the indigenous communities of India. In this regard, he said that the Constitution was a social contract between those historically in power and the marginalised who sought to govern themselves."When India gained independence, she was plagued by social evils. Colonial and pre-colonial courts followed an approach of reluctance, disinclination in protecting the rights of the citizens.".Indian judiciary today.However, he went on to note that the Indian judiciary has been at the forefront of protecting the marginalised."The jurisprudence that has emanated from our courts in India have influenced decisions in South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Jamaica, Uganda, Bangladesh, Singapore, Fiji and others," said the CJI..Access to justice.The Chief Justice further said that the justice delivery system should be accessible to everyone, and that the Indian judiciary was adopting technology to realise this goal. "Adoption of technology in listing of cases and court hearings will help to weed out institutional flaws such as delay in listing and hearing and is removed from our vocabularies," he explained..Underscoring the importance of uplifting and strengthening the district judiciary, CJI Chandrachud reasoned that it was the first point of contact for access to justice."Access to justice must be defined to uphold the faith and perception which general public holds in the legal system. I can assure everyone that the initiatives launched today are so that disadvantaged do not stumble while accessing justice," he said..He ended his address by urging young minds to dedicate themselves to the social realities of India, stating that change often happens through small acts of kindness..[Read our live-coverage of the event here]