New Delhi: The Supreme Court has unveiled a new Lady of Justice statue with significant alterations. The statue, installed in the judges’ library at the direction of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has open eyes and holds the Constitution in one hand, replacing the traditional sword. This change is seen as a powerful message that the law is not blind in India, and justice is guided by the principles enshrined in the Constitution, not by punishment.
Traditionally, the blindfold on the Lady of Justice has symbolized impartiality, suggesting that courts must be blind to wealth, power, or social status when delivering justice. The sword, on the other hand, represented authority and the power to punish wrongdoers. However, Chief Justice Chandrachud, in a move to shed colonial influences, has opted for a statue that reflects a more modern, inclusive, and constitutionally grounded approach to justice.
Sources from the Chief Justice’s office revealed that Justice Chandrachud believes India’s legal system should evolve beyond its colonial legacy, just as the country replaced the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The decision to remove the blindfold and replace the sword is a reflection of his vision that justice should be dispensed according to the Constitution and not through punitive force.
“The Chief Justice emphasized that the Lady of Justice should symbolize justice according to the Constitution, not violence or punishment. The sword was a symbol of force, but courts deliver justice based on constitutional laws, not through coercion,” a senior source explained.
While the sword has been replaced, the scales of justice in the statue’s right hand have been retained. These scales represent the balance courts strive for when weighing facts and arguments from both sides before arriving at a verdict, ensuring fairness in the judicial process.
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