CJI DY Chandrachud Urges Judges To Write Judgments In Simple Language

CJI was speaking at the inaugural event of the regional/state-level Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman (Our Constitution Our Respect) Campaign to commemorate the 75th Year of India as a Republic. The event, which took place in Bikaner, Rajasthan, was also attended by Union Minister for Law & Justice Ram Meghwal. This Campaign aims to enhance awareness about the Constitution and citizens' rights and duties.

At the beginning of his address, CJI averred that the Constitution is important for any nation's unity and progress. Elucidating this, he also quoted Britain's constitutional law expert, Sir Ivor Jennings, who said India's constitution is a lawyer's paradise.

Quoting B.R. Ambedkar's speech in the constituent assembly, he said, “The constitution is not a mere lawyers' document. It is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.”

Highlighting how even basic rights like the right to ration, clean water, and health are derived from our constitution, he said that the latter is not only limited to books but also has its place from the Court's corridors to villages. He asserted that our mission will remain incomplete until our Constitution's learning reaches our villages.

Regarding the progress made in the technology field, CJI said that Jan Seva's formation has been implemented across this country. He also apprised his audience that the Supreme Court has started hearing cases through videoconferencing. Now, any lawyer sitting in any part of the Country can argue his matter.

Notably, he also stressed that now everyone can access the Court to see all the matters linked to our basic rights. Further, talking about the social change that has happened due to this video conferencing, he said that now women have started to argue their matters in increasing numbers. CJI addressed that while a man goes directly go to Court in the morning, however, a woman is not just an advocate. She is also a woman, daughter-in-law, and sister. In other words, women have manifold responsibilities. Thus, through video conferencing, a woman's entire day is not spent just sitting in a Court. At this, he said that women also perform other responsibilities and are role models.

During the event the “Nyaya Sahayak” programme was launched. Nyaya Sahayak act as community based messengers for generating door to door awareness on legal services and solutions of Department of Justice in Aspirational Blocks & Districts.

For this, CJI suggested that Law students should also come forward to spread this program. If every student takes this campaign to ten people, they can form a human chain. He added that it is good to see female students studying law in increasing numbers.

He concluded his address by saying that we should aim for the core values of our constitution to bring meaningful change in our lives.

(Please note that CJI's address was in Hindi and this is a loose translation.)

The event can be accessed here