Vice-President Releases the Voice of Justice by Ex-CJI B.R. Gavai, Hails Public Trust as Lifeblood of Justice
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi, July 14: Underscoring the enduring primacy of the Constitution in safeguarding India’s democratic ethos, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday declared that the Constitution remains the cornerstone of democratic stability and national unity, while stressing that constitutional governance must continually respond to the aspirations of the people.
Calling upon the legal fraternity to periodically provide free legal aid to the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society, he lauded former Chief Justice of India Justice B. R. Gavai’s judicial journey as a shining embodiment of integrity, constitutional fidelity and firm commitment to the rule of law.
The Vice-President made these observations while releasing The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks at the Up-Rashtrapati Bhavan. Edited by Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar and published by Thomson Reuters in association with the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), the volume brings together Justice Gavai’s speeches, lectures and reflections, offering valuable insights into constitutional governance, judicial philosophy and the administration of justice.
He observed that while the Constitution remains the bedrock of India’s constitutional democracy, Parliament’s power to amend it enables the nation to effectively respond to changing social and constitutional realities.
Highlighting the judiciary’s pivotal constitutional role, the Vice-President said the institution remains the guardian of constitutional governance and the custodian of public faith in the rule of law.
Stressing that restraint is as indispensable as authority in a constitutional democracy, he remarked that strong institutions and the administration of justice derive their strength from institutional integrity, constitutional discipline, public trust and an unwavering commitment to democratic values.
The CJI Surya Kant presided the book launch said that
“The first is the insistence that the Constitution is not self-executing. Its promises become real only when institutions remember the human being behind the dispute. That is why Bhushan Bhai returns so often to access to justice, free legal aid, undertrial prisoners, and compassion in justice delivery. His reflections on Article 39A are not technical reflections on legal aid alone; they are a reminder that justice cannot depend on the accident of one’s resources.”
The second theme is the former CJI’s focus on the relationship between rights and social justice CJI Kant said that the former judge doesn’t see fundamental rights and directive principles as rival claims upon the constitution bur deliberate constitutional design. Thirdly the book addresses the need for constitutionalism through the lens of technology, legal, education, arbitration, climate concerns, gender justice, public confidence in courts and rights of marginalised communities.
He further said that Justice Gavai’s speech doesn’t offer an easy answer to these anxieties
“What they Page 10 of 13 offer instead is a method: an insistence that the Law retain its human face even while modernising, that Courts remain accessible even while managing complexity, and that constitutional morality must not remain a phrase reserved for judgments, but should inform institutional dharma in everyday life.”
The Vice-President Radhakrishnan described the book as “ an important constitutional and institutional document.Calling for governance that remains sensitive to the aspirations of ordinary citizens, Radhakrishnan underscored the need to empower marginalised communities to ensure dignity, equal opportunity and hope for every individual.
Paying rich tributes to former Chief Justice of India Justice B. R. Gavai, he said the distinguished jurist’s judicial career exemplifies an enduring commitment to constitutional values, institutional balance and access to justice.
In a significant appeal to the legal fraternity, the Vice-President urged advocates to periodically undertake pro bono representation for the poorest sections of society, asserting that meaningful access to justice can be realised only when legal assistance reaches the most vulnerable.
The remarks were delivered during the release of The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks. The event was attended by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikram Nath, former Chief Justice of India Justice B. R. Gavai, Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar, President and Editor of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), Shri Gowri Shankar Natesan, Publisher, Thomson Reuters, along with eminent members of the legal fraternity.
