Supreme Court Bar Association Marks Constitution Day; CJI Surya Kant Makes Maiden Address
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, November 26: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, in his keynote address at the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) Constitution Day celebrations, delivered a stirring tribute to the enduring spirit of India’s constitutional democracy and the pivotal role of the legal fraternity in fortifying it.
Calling Constitution Day “a most fitting and exhilarating occasion for this milestone,” the CJI reflected on the historic moment when the people of India gave themselves their most fundamental covenant. “This day,” he said, “marks the collective resolve of a nation to enshrine liberty, equality, and justice as guiding principles of its destiny.”
Bar as Torchbearer of Constitutional Values
Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the Bar occupies an indispensable place in strengthening the rule of law and upholding the sanctity of the Constitution. “If the courts are regarded as the sentinels of the Constitution, then the members of the Bar are its torchbearers,” he remarked, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between the judiciary and the legal profession.
He noted that from the inception of the Constitution, the judiciary has acknowledged the indubitable role of the Bar in safeguarding its virtues. The CJI urged lawyers to uphold constitutional ideals not merely through arguments and judgments, but through the integrity they embody, the empathy they cultivate, and the conscience they carry forward.
Homage to Legal Luminaries
In a moving tribute, Justice Surya Kant praised legendary jurist Nani Palkhivala, whose advocacy, he said, left “an indelible imprint on constitutional adjudication.” He also recalled the contributions of M.C. Setalvad, India’s first Attorney General, whose arguments of “remarkable lucidity and salubrious depth” shaped judicial transformation in ways that continue to resonate.
The CJI further reminded the audience that even the principal architects of the Constitution—Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, K.M. Munshi, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer—once stood as members of the Bar, exemplifying the profession’s foundational role in nation-building.
Call for Integrity and Empathy
Justice Surya Kant concluded his address with a solemn appeal: “We must uphold the Constitution not only through our judgments and arguments but through the integrity we embody, the empathy we cultivate, and the conscience we carry forward.” His words resonated deeply with the assembled members of the SCBA, reinforcing the moral dimension of legal practice in a constitutional democracy.
