GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Nov. Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, emphasized the pivotal role of India’s Constitution in shaping the nation into a vibrant democracy and a geopolitical leader. Speaking at the Constitution Day function organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday, Justice Khanna reflected on India’s transformative journey from a nation scarred by partition, widespread illiteracy, and poverty to one that stands as a self-assured leader.
“It is today a way of life that has to be lived up to,” Justice Khanna remarked, underscoring the Constitution’s enduring impact on India’s growth. The nation, he noted, had moved from a lack of a robust democratic system to one that is now a force to reckon with on the global stage. The Constitution, he asserted, played a key role in this transformation.
Constitution Day, observed annually on November 26 since 2015, marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. The day was previously celebrated as Law Day. During the event, Attorney General R. Venkataramani and SCBA president Kapil Sibal also addressed the gathering.
In his speech, Justice Khanna acknowledged the crucial role of the Bar in the functioning of the judiciary. He stated, “Judiciary equally represents the Bar.” Drawing from his experience, Justice Khanna emphasized that the judiciary cannot function without the involvement of Bar members, stressing that a stronger Bar contributes to better judges.
Reflecting on his own journey, Justice Khanna shared that he was a member of the Bar from 1983 to 2005 before his elevation to the bench. He highlighted the Supreme Court’s strong legacy in landmark decisions across various fields such as environmental law, privacy laws, and fundamental rights, attributing much of this success to the Bar.
The CJI also addressed various initiatives taken to improve the judicial system, including setting up notice boards outside courtrooms to display physical cause lists and improving Wi-Fi services in the Supreme Court. He discussed the changes to the adjournment system, revealing that the number of adjournment applications had significantly decreased, from around 100 applications a day to about 150 a month, under the new system.
Justice Khanna concluded by calling for introspection on Constitution Day. “It is a day when we look at the scorecard. We have good scores but there are issues that we must tackle,” he said. He emphasized the importance of unified efforts from both the judiciary and the Bar to address these challenges and continue India’s journey of legal and constitutional excellence.
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