Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud on Saturday said that the statue of the Lady of Justice in the Supreme Court has now been replaced with the Lady carrying with her the Constitution of India.
Chandrachud said, “The Lady of Justice in the Supreme Court does not carry a sword but instead carries with her the Constitution of India, a document which has the transformative power to break the bonds of social hierarchies and inequalities.”
Speaking at the inauguration of the new District and Sessions Court complex at Merces, he said, “The blindfold of the statue which meant impartiality has been removed.” “After all, the law is not blind. It views everyone equally and is equally aware of social realities,” he said “The equality of the law is not a formal sense of equality but substantive recognising that offers security,” he said.
CJI Chandrachud further said that equality is rooted in an understanding of historical disadvantages, privileges, and certain communities. “Every individual who walks through the doors of our courts brings his own experiences, struggles, and hopes,” the CJI said.
He also suggested establishment of a Judicial Academy and to make Goa a global financial system centre by setting up Arbitration and Mediation Centre for the future. He said that the Judicial Academy will train not just judges, but train civil service officers, police officers and other people who render their services within the State.
Stating that all forms of derogatory language particularly towards women judicial officers had no place in courts, Chandrachud called for vigilance in choice of words in Courtrooms to ensure that stereotypes based on gender, caste or socioeconomic status that could disproportionately affect women and marginalised communities are not perpetuated.
Expressing his concern over complaints from women judicial officers that some members of the administrative establishment use derogatory language towards women, he said, “I think the time has come when we must realise that all forms of derogatory language particularly towards women must have no place in our courts at all. We must actively choose to speak a language of inclusivity, respect and empowerment. This involves re-examining our legal lexicon and ensuring that it does not reinforce stereotypes based on gender, cast or socio-economic status. Heart of our judicial system lies in the idea of a conscious court, a courtroom that is acutely aware of the societal realities and the multifaceted difficulties encountered by those who seek justice, reflecting the idea of a conscious court. he added.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declared the State-of-the-art District Court Complex in Merces as a milestone in judicial infrastructure development. He said the government is committed to modernising and expanding judicial infrastructure across the State for improved justice delivery.
Supreme Court Judge Justice Abhay A Oka suggested the old high court building be used to set up judicial academy and arbitration and mediation centres.
He said that Goa is the only State which does not have judicial academy. Earlier, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya welcomed the gathering and North Goa Bar Association president Santosh Bharne proposed a vote of thanks.