Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th October. In a significant development in Bharat’s legal and judicial history, the traditional statue of Lady Justice has undergone a profound transformation. The symbolic figure, often seen in courts and legal institutions worldwide, has appeared in a new avatar at the Supreme Court of India. This reimagined statue, commissioned by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, breaks with certain long-standing elements, such as the blindfold and sword, while retaining the scales of justice. The removal of the blindfold and the replacement of the sword with the Constitution reflects a paradigm shift, signaling that the law is not blind and justice is more than just punishment. This change is viewed as part of Bharat’s broader efforts to modernize its legal system and move beyond colonial legacies.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has unveiled a new statue of Lady Justice, removing her blindfold and replacing the sword with the Constitution. This transformative symbol reflects a commitment to constitutional values and equality before the law. #Justice #CJIChandrachud pic.twitter.com/3orY71U2cy
— DD News (@DDNewslive) October 17, 2024
The Transformation: Lady Justice’s New Symbolism
Traditionally, the statue of Lady Justice depicts a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other. Each element of the statue represents core principles of justice. The blindfold symbolizes impartiality, suggesting that justice is delivered without bias or prejudice based on wealth, status, or power. The sword represents the power to punish wrongdoing and the authority of the law. The scales symbolize the weighing of evidence and arguments, signifying fairness in decision-making.
However, the new statue, installed in the judges’ library of the Supreme Court, departs from this conventional representation. The blindfold has been removed, and the sword replaced by the Bharatiya Constitution. The scales of justice, however, remain intact. This change communicates a powerful message: the law sees everyone equally, and justice in Bharat now emphasizes fairness, constitutional values, and equality, moving away from punishment as a primary focus.
Modernizing Bharat’s Legal Symbols
The redesigned statue is part of a broader movement in Bharat to shed the colonial vestiges of its legal system. For decades, Bharat’s legal framework was heavily influenced by British-era laws, notably the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which was implemented in 1860. In a historic reform in 2023, the IPC and other colonial laws were replaced with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill. These reforms were aimed at making Bharat’s legal system more reflective of Bharatiya values and responsive to contemporary challenges. Similarly, the reimagining of Lady Justice is part of the country’s journey toward legal decolonization, symbolically detaching from its British past.
Chief Justice Chandrachud, under whose orders the new statue was commissioned, has articulated that Bharat’s legal system should move forward from British colonial legacies. According to reports, he believes that the law must be seen as something that “sees everyone equally” and is firmly rooted in constitutional principles. The new Lady Justice statue visually embodies this vision.
Blindfold and Sword: Rethinking Traditional Symbols
For centuries, the blindfolded Lady Justice has stood as a universal emblem of impartiality, often viewed as necessary to ensure that justice is delivered equally, regardless of a person’s identity, power, or social standing. However, the new interpretation challenges this notion, suggesting that justice is not blind but rather aware of who stands before it. This shift implies that the judiciary, in its role as an interpreter of law, must actively see and consider the societal realities of individuals. This conscious recognition underscores that justice should be dispensed with understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to individual circumstances rather than with an abstracted blindness.
Similarly, the removal of the sword and its replacement with the Constitution emphasizes that justice is no longer about retribution or wielding power. The Constitution now takes precedence, symbolizing that the judiciary’s authority derives from the supreme legal document of the land, rather than from a punitive approach. This subtle yet powerful transformation places the focus squarely on constitutional principles—such as equality, justice, and individual rights—as the guiding framework for adjudicating cases.
Retaining the Scales of Justice: A Reminder of Balance
Despite the significant changes to the traditional statue, the scales of justice have been retained. This retention of the scales reflects the continued importance of fairness and balance in the Bharatiya legal system. Courts will still weigh evidence from all sides, ensuring that decisions are grounded in a fair assessment of the facts. The scales serve as a reminder that the judiciary’s role is to carefully evaluate the arguments and positions presented by both parties in a case, ensuring that justice is served through a balanced and reasoned approach.
A Step Toward Inclusivity and Transparency
The redesign of Lady Justice speaks volumes about Bharat’s evolving justice system, which is increasingly focused on inclusivity, fairness, and transparency. The law’s symbolic “awareness” suggests that courts must be conscious of social disparities and context when interpreting the law. By removing the blindfold, Bharat’s judiciary signals a willingness to engage more deeply with the specific circumstances of individuals, which is crucial in a country as diverse as Bharat, where socioeconomic and cultural factors often shape people’s access to justice.
Furthermore, the replacement of the sword with the Constitution places a strong emphasis on legal procedures, individual rights, and the rule of law as laid out by the supreme law of the land. This shift moves away from an overly punitive approach, suggesting that justice is about upholding the principles enshrined in the Constitution rather than about retribution.
The Broader Implications of This Move
The reimagining of the Lady Justice statue reflects the broader ideological shift in Bharat’s judiciary and legal system. As Bharat transitions away from its colonial past, there is a growing desire to assert a uniquely Bharatiya legal identity, one that is rooted in the Constitution and resonates with the values of modern Bharatiya society. This shift also aligns with Bharat’s democratic ideals, where equality, justice, and constitutional supremacy take precedence over the archaic notions of authority and punishment.
This development may also have a lasting impact on the way the public perceives the judiciary. By removing the blindfold, the message being sent is that the courts are not distant or indifferent to the realities of those who come before them. Instead, they are institutions that understand and see the complexities of individuals and their circumstances, allowing for a more empathetic and just legal process.
Conclusion: A Vision for the Future of Justice in Bharat
The transformation of Lady Justice is more than just a change in a statue; it is a reflection of the evolving philosophy of the Bharatiya judicial system. The decision to remove the blindfold and replace the sword with the Constitution marks a pivotal moment in Bharat’s legal history, signaling a departure from colonial-era symbols of justice toward a more inclusive, equitable, and constitutional framework. As the country continues to modernize its legal institutions, the new Lady Justice statue serves as a powerful emblem of this transformation.
A Welcome and Timely Change
The redesign of Lady Justice is a welcome change that aligns with the evolving needs of Bharat’s justice system. The removal of the blindfold sends a strong message: justice must be conscious of the realities of the individuals and societies it serves. By replacing the sword with the Constitution, Bharat’s judiciary has rightly placed its focus on constitutional principles, ensuring that justice is not about punishment, but about fairness, rights, and the rule of law.
This shift reflects a deeper commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and empathy within the justice system—values that are essential for any democracy. As Bharat continues to move forward, this new symbolism will serve as a reminder that justice must be responsive, modern, and rooted in the ideals of equality and fairness for all.
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