SC Constitution Day celebrations: Murmu calls for an all-India judicial service to recruit judges, says will boost representation

The President said the cause of justice is best served by making it accessible for all, but pointed out that barriers still exist. “Cost is the most significant factor. And there are other barriers like language, which is beyond the comprehension of a majority of citizens.”

She said: “A more varied representation of India’s unique diversity on the Bench and the Bar definitely helps serve the cause of justice better. One way to hasten this diversification process can be the creation of a system in which judges can be recruited from varied backgrounds through a process that is merit-based, competitive and transparent.”

“There can be an all-India judicial service which can select brilliant youngsters and nurture and promote their talents from lower levels to higher levels. Those who aspire to serve the Bench can be selected from across the country to create a larger pool of talent. Such a system can offer opportunities to the less-represented social groups too,” Murmu said.

She also called for “clearing away” the vestiges of colonialism from all domains

The President said India has been deepening democracy since winning freedom by upholding justice and equality and empowering every citizen. “That is why India has had people from highly varied backgrounds occupying high offices and excelling in various walks of life,” she said.

“If we consider gender, for example, the offices of the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, among others, have been held by women. Though their numerical strength in legislative bodies was less, the long-awaited Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam will increase their proportion too. In the bureaucracy, Armed Forces as well as scientific and technological research institutions, women’s representation has been rising. This is true not only for women but also for other socially disadvantaged groups including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,” Murmu said.

In his address, CJI Chandrachud said the Supreme Court, in its seven decades of existence, has acted as a people’s court. “Thousands of citizens have approached its door with the faith that they will get justice through this institution”.

He said citizens come to court to seek protection of their personal liberty, accountability against unlawful arrests, protection of rights of bonded labourers, tribals seeking protection of their homelands, prevention of social evils such as manual scavenging and even hoping for interference to get clean air.

“These cases are not just citations or statistics for the court. These cases resemble the expectations of people from the Supreme Court as well as the court’s own commitment to deliver justice to the citizens,” the CJI said.

The Supreme Court of India, he said, “is perhaps the only court in the world where any citizen, no matter who they are or where they come from, can set in motion the constitutional machinery of the SC simply by even writing to the CJI.”

The CJI also spoke on the need for a separate Constitution day. “The answer lies in the success of our democracy… The history of decolonisation is full of examples of countries that have thrown open the doors of independence only to stumble at the steps of self-government”.

“India not only maintained its Constitution, but also the people imbibed it as a symbol of their aspirations. Celebration of Constitution Day thus symbolises the social life of an independent nation,” he said.

Chandrachud said: “The Constitution and its framers successfully channelled the energies of liberty and independence to build a ship and chart a course for liberty, equality, and fraternity. As we honour their achievements, we must also recognise our generation’s solemn duty to keep the ship afloat, ensure there is wind in its sails, and continue the journey.”