India's Supreme Court re cently unveiled a new statue of Lad’ Justice, an iconic sym bol of the judiciary, marking a significant departure from traditional representations rooted in colonial heritage. Traditionally depicted as blindfolded, holding scales and a sword, this new version portrays her with open eyes, dressed in a saree, and holding the Constitution instead of a sword.
This transformation reflects an intentional move by the judiciary to break free from the colonial past and to better align with Indian cultural values and constitutional principles. It speaks volumes about the spirit of a judicial vision that is becoming more aware, inclusive, and attuned to the complexities of contemporary Indian society.
The open-eyed Lady Justice has profound symbolic value. The absence of the blindfold is particularly significant in a country like India, where inequality, caste, gender discrimination, and socioeconomic disparities persist.
The conventional blindfold, intended to symbolize impartiality, is inadequate in addressing India’s diverse realities. Justice in India cannot be blind to the systemic injustices deeply rooted in its social fabric. The judiciary, by embodying this open-eyed figure, is expressing a commitment to seeing and addressing the country's unique challenges.
At the same time, the shift from the sword, a symbol of au thority and punishment, to the Constitution signifies a more democratic and rights-based approach to justice.
The Constitution is the sup reme law of India, enshrining the values of equality, liberty, and fraternity, and this new depiction of Lady Justice reaffirms the judiciary’s role as the guardian of those principles.
It underscores that the judiciary’s power should come not from the ability to punish, but from its dedication to upholding constitutional morality and protecting individual rights.
Denne historien er fra November 14, 2024-utgaven av The Statesman.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 14, 2024-utgaven av The Statesman.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Want To Be Part Of A Team That Has A Good Environment: KL Rahul Ahead Of IPL Auction
Stressing on the importance of playing with "freedom" in a "good environment", KL Rahul said he was looking forward to starting afresh as he enters the mega Indian Premier League auction after being released by the Lucknow Super Giants, following their forgettable seventh-place finish in IPL 2024.
Russia Launches First Missile Attack On Kyiv In Months As North Korean Troops Fight Ukraine In Kursk
Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday, authorities reported, as the Pentagon said most of the North Korean troops sent to help Moscow's war effort are fighting to drive Ukraine's army off Russian soil in the Kursk border region.
RG Kar Financial Lapses: Illegal Medicine Purchase Under CBI Lens
Sources said Maa Tara Traders, the agency to whom the purchases were illegally outsourced, was operating from Rishra in Hooghly district
At UN Climate Talks, Nations Big And Small Get Chance To Bear Witness To Climate Change
More than two dozen world leaders are delivering remarks at the United Nations' annual climate conference Wednesday, with many hard-hit nations detailing their nations' firsthand experience with the catastrophic weather that has come with climate change.
Birbhum ZP sabhadhipati Kajal Sheikh's security upgraded further
Within a month, security of Kajal Sheikh, sabhadhipati of Birbhum zilla parishad and a member of Birbhum district core committee, has been reviewed twice.
4 children suffer burn injuries in Kanksha
Three children received severe burn injuries on Rice Mill Road under Kanksha po lice station of West Burdwan while they were playing inside an abandoned vehicle.
TMC accuses ISF of setting on fire party office in Bhangar
Some unknown miscreants allegedly backed by Indian Secular Front (ISF) set fire to a party office of ruling Trinamul Congress at Chaltaberia in Bhangar of South 24 Parganas district at a time, when activists of the two parties got involved in a clash during bypolls in Haroa Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday.
Climate Reckoning
India's climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it's an urgent, daily reality.
Climate challenges
SIR, As the annual UN climate summit COP29 gathers in Baku, Azerbaijan, it faces a forbidding future.
Lady Justice
The symbolism marks an enlightened vision for India's judiciary. Yet, this gesture contrasts with the pressing challenges within the system, especially the vast backlog of cases. As of January 2024, the Supreme Court alone has over 80,000 pending cases, and more than 58 lakh cases are stuck across various high courts, with some dating back over 30 years. The delays disproportionately affect marginalized communities, often forcing them through a drawn-out, costly legal process
