Our Constitution a feminist document; Universal Adult Franchise empowered women, marginalised: CJI DY Chandrachud

The Constitution of India is a feminist document and truly a product of Indian imagination, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said on Friday..The CJI said the drafters of the Constitution were aware that political equality would not be sufficient to remove social inequalities and universal adult franchise (UAF) helped establish a sense of belonging and faith in democracy."Our constitution was a feminist document and was truly a product of Indian Imagination. Drafters were aware that political equality would not suffice to remove social inequalities. UAF played a key role. For the marginalised it was the constitution which gave them the rights," he said.Thus, those who were denied rights earlier became instrumental in deciding who would come to power. "Those who were earlier denied rights and power now became a deciding force in selecting composition of parliament and thus UAF led to social transformation and it provided rights to social communities whose right to believe in themselves was also taken away," he said.CJI DY Chandrachud was speaking at the eight Dr LM Singhvi Memorial Lecture on the subject Universal Adult Franchise: Translating India's political transformation into a social transformation.Historically, power was concentrated in the hands of a few, he pointed out."Those who did not hold power were subjected several levels of suppression. When structure of democracy was adopted the freedom was of few. Right to vote was only for few who were privileges and this showed influence and hegemony in the society," he went on to note..The Constitution changed that, he said, adding how according to Dr. BR Ambedkar the idea of universal adult franchise was non-negotiable.In this regard, the CJI elucidated on the feminist nature of the Indian Constitution which was adopted right when the nation was shedding its colonial and pre colonial shackles..He also opined that it cannot be seen only from a political lens, but from a change in social landscape."Participation in electoral process have to be looked at from the point of the ones who were not allowed to vote (earlier) but allowed by the constitution. For the Dalits UAF played a key role," he said..[Read our live-coverage of the hearing below]