Hyderabad: Chief Justice of India, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, highlighted Dr. BR Ambedkar’s vital role in crafting the Indian Constitution. He praised Ambedkar’s foresight in using the Constitution as a tool for social and economic change.
The CJI spoke at a lecture organized by Osmania University on Saturday, focusing on Ambedkar’s contributions. He mentioned Ambedkar’s swift work on the Objective Resolution in 1946, which led to its adoption by 1949.
According to the CJI, the Constitution reflects Ambedkar’s leadership and intellect in forming modern India’s foundational document. He emphasized that rights are useless without remedies, pointing to Article 32. This article allows citizens to seek justice in the Supreme Court if their fundamental rights are violated, which he called the “heart and soul of the Constitution.” Judicial remedies, he noted, are vital for safeguarding democratic freedoms.
While influenced by global models, India’s Constitution is uniquely tailored for the nation, creating a unified legal framework unlike the dual systems in places like the U.S. “Our strong federal structure applies the same Constitution to all states and citizens,” he stated.
Addressing the Directive Principles of State Policy, he acknowledged criticism about their non-enforceability in courts but defended them as governance’s moral guide. “These principles are not empty; they guide legislators and executives toward justice and equality,” he added. He referenced the historic Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, where the Supreme Court harmonized Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles as twin pillars of governance.
Justice Sujoy Paul, Acting Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, echoed Ambedkar’s wisdom: “A Constitution is only as good as the people implementing it.” He recalled Sir Ivor Jennings criticizing the Constitution’s length, yet noted Sri Lanka’s constitution lasted just 14 years, whereas India’s has endured for 75 years.
Earlier, Supreme Court Judge Justice Padmidighantam Narasimha and Advocate General of Telangana, A Sudarshan Reddy, honored Ambedkar with floral tributes. Judges from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra attended the event.
The CJI also unveiled a special commemorative cover and postcard with Dr. P. Vidya Sagar Reddy, Chief Postmaster General of Telangana, to mark the event’s historical significance.
