The speech of the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, delivered as Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture in Mumbai on December 17, reminds us of the following verse of the Holy Qur’ān:
“Believers! Be upholders of justice, and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor: for Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. Do not, then, follow your own desires lest you keep away from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is well aware of all that you do.” (4:135)
Honourable CJI forcefully spoke about justice to one and all and the importance of upholding the rule of law and delivering justice to even the poorest citizens. The CJI was indirectly referring to the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s speech in Parliament on Wednesday that “If the Supreme Court of India starts hearing bail applications… all frivolous PILs, it will definitely cause a lot of extra burden on the court.”
He clarified that every case is important, whether big or small. He stressed that the courts will be the guardians of the liberties of citizens. He said that this is a fundamental rule for every court, be a lower court, High Court or even Supreme Court. He said that people have strong confidence that the courts will uphold the rule of law and the judges must not allow that this confidence is shaken.
Every sane citizen will welcome the golden words of the CJI. But what is the ground reality? By and large, common people are losing trust in the judiciary. They feel that they do not have enough resources to knock at the doors of judiciary and are unsure of getting justice.
The CJI also said that there is discrimination, casteism and other prejudices in our country. The judiciary should keep this in mind and try to do justice and full justice for everyone.
Some time back, CJI Ramana also spoke golden things about upholding of law and delivering justice. But our society and system are so rotten that he could not deliver what he visualised.
We welcome the precious thoughts of our present CJI and wish him Godspeed. Let us hope that the entire judiciary right from the lowest court will take due note of CJI’s exhortations and let justice be done, at all cost at every level.
It is also necessary that all citizens in their individual capacity and in mutual relations and collectivity cultivate justice, fair play, good relations and brotherly behaviour.