Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Thursday said that the Constitution taught the citizens a very important lesson, that people can either survive or perish together.
Inaugurating the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court, the CJI said that in this cycle of existence, no one can stand alone and that everyone was bound to be together.
He shared that one of his colleagues was recently diagnosed with dengue and needed blood transfusion. The blood donated earlier by the members of the judiciary was given to the person, so that he could return to normalcy.
The CJI said that more than 2000 court employees had launched a blood donation this morning.
He revealed that on Wednesday, he was dealing with a fraud case. The CJI said that fraud cases tend to increase during elections, after which they settle down. As elections come closer, the Court becomes a sight for political engagement, he added.
In this case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi were arguing for their respective clients. The CJI said he told his colleagues to dictate the judgement right there for transparency.
He saw the SG going across to talk with Dr. Singhvi. For a moment, the CJI said, he thought they were joking about him. He said it gave away the essential nature of the legal profession. It was a profession of diversity, in terms of gender, caste and region.
Lawyers may have different ways of dressing, food preferences, religions, ideologies and identities, but all of them were essentially one, which was also reflected through their attire. Their attire was black & white and sober, a symbol of the tradition that they shared, he added.
The CJI said that it was for the members of the judiciary to ensure that they truly made their chambers inclusive. They should encourage people with different ideas and different thoughts and also encourage young lawyers to join judicial service, he added.
It was important to learn to discharge one’s duties to the cause of justice, which ranked much higher than success or failure in individual cases. He told the lawyers that they don’t have to merely protect the judges, but hold them to account as well.
He said one hallmark of SCBA was that all judges of the bar came from different parts of the country for a better livelihood, but also to make the lives of citizens better.
Lawyers have this one big responsibility. The ability to change the lives of Indian citizens.
The ability not to be tied down by one dogma or doctrine. They take a long time to build but only moments to sacrifice. So seniors have to pass on these messages to younger members of the bar. He said he shared stories with his clerks to convey what he learnt from his own life.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal attended the event as Guest of Honour. Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala and Vice-President of SCBA Sukumar Pattjoshi, among others, were present on the occasion.
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