- The Chief Justice of India recently unveiled a new statue of ‘lady justice’ in the Supreme Court, replacing the previous one.
- The new statue is draped in a saree, without a blindfold, holding scales in one hand and the Indian Constitution in the other, symbolizing a shift towards Indian traditions and an open-eyed approach to justice.
- The modern ‘lady justice’ originated from Justitia, the Roman goddess of justice.
- Traditionally, she holds a sword, scales, and wears a blindfold, symbolizing fairness, balance, and the authority of law.
- The blindfold, added in the Renaissance, represented impartiality.
- The new statue reflects an attempt at decolonization by shedding colonial symbols.
- The saree replaces Western attire, emphasizing Indian traditions, and the open eyes signify that justice in India must ‘see’ everyone equally, considering social diversity and discrimination.
- The Constitution replaces the sword, highlighting the supremacy of constitutional law, while the scales retain the symbol of impartial justice.
| Persistent Challenges before the Indian Judiciary: Memorandum of Procedure: The revised process for judicial appointments has been pending for eight years. Finalizing it would enhance transparency and accountability. Social Representation: The higher judiciary lacks adequate representation from backward classes, scheduled castes, tribes, religious minorities, and women. Appointments should reflect India’s social diversity. Judicial Vacancies: High Courts operate at only 60-70% strength, contributing to case backlogs. The government should expedite appointments and states should fill vacancies in lower courts. Priority Cases: Cases on constitutional amendments and individual liberty must be prioritized to ensure prompt justice. |
Dig Deeper: Compare the Indian Judicial System with the UK and USA in the context of Judicial Independence.
