Dr. BR Ambedkar is not just a leader of Dalits; represents the entire nation: CJI DY Chandrachud

Dr. BR Ambedkar is not merely a leader of Dalit community but he belongs to the entire nation, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said on Sunday. .The CJI highlighted Dr. Ambedkar's tireless efforts to mobilize people for social justice, emphasizing that social justice is not exclusive to the marginalized."Profound reasons why we are having this session and set up the statue. Dr Ambedkar belongs to everyone. He is not a leader of (just) untouchables, he represents the entire nation. His efforts to mobilise people for social justice ... Social justice is not a project of the marginalised alone," he said..The CJI was addressing a gathering as part of a working session to commemorate 100 years of Dr. BR Ambedkar's enrollment as an advocate..He underscored Dr. Ambedkar's identification with the mainstream and his attempts to reform it. According to the CJI, Ambedkar's statue in the Supreme Court symbolized a steadfast commitment to equality, liberty, and fraternity. "He identified himself as part of mainstream and attempted to reform it. The statue represents the abiding sense of equality with liberty and fraternity," the CJI said..He also touched upon the significance of affirmative action, noting that it provides a platform for individuals to perform on an equal footing..On the underrepresentation of women in judiciary, the CJI explained that the limited pool of available talent at the Bar and in district judiciary contributes to the underrepresentation of women in High Courts and the Supreme Court. He also mentioned positive developments in the district judiciary where 60-80% of fresh recruits are now women."I always explain that we draw upon a pool of available talent unlike in the US where you can make a senator a judge. So we have to increase that pool. Now in district judiciary, 60-80% of fresh recruits are women," he stated..In the pursuit of true equality, the CJI stressed the need to consider all factors contributing to a loss of a level playing field. He cited examples such as access to coaching centers for exams like Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is a disadvantage for individuals from marginalized and rural backgrounds, since the may have to write exams in English.The CJI also informed the audience that the Supreme Court's clerkship program is now conducted in over 20 cities to draw in a broader and more diverse pool of talent.