Discipline sustains justice, reputation: CJI Surya Kant

Inaugurating an international convention on “Independence of Judiciary” at OP Jindal Global University here on Saturday, CJI Surya Kant said, “Imandari is not a mere ornament to character, it is the discipline that sustains both justice and reputation.”

“Integrity is what you do when no one is watching and courage is what you do when everyone is watching,” said the CJI. “They are instruments of survival. If I may speak from the vantage of experience, they are also the only legitimate shortcut to genuine success,” he said.

“Here, it is worth recalling the words I am trying to read these days. There were 15 women members in the constituent assembly and I found one of the quotes of G Durgabai, who was also a member of the Assembly, said about the courts, the repositories of the Constitution,” said the CJI.

“She declared that the judiciary has to feel that they are independent. It is only in that case that we can get efficiency in the administration of justice. Needless to say, her insight remains as urgent today, it was at the republic dawn,” the CJI added.

With eminent judges, academics and practitioners from India and abroad, this convention promises to deepen our shared understanding of how justice systems preserve credibility in changing times, he said.

“I have always believed that comparative judicial dialogue is an act of humanity. A reminder while our Constitution speak in its own idiom, their values are universal,” added the CJI.

Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said Indian Constitution was a living document. “Dr BR Ambedkar said that the Constitution is not a mere legal document, it is a vehicle of life and its spirit is always the spirit of the age,” said Meghwal.

He said, “Our Constitution, through Article 50, embodies the principle of separation of powers. Articles 121 and 122 also safeguard the autonomy and dignity of institutions. We must move forward with a holistic view.”

“We are moving towards a system that is future-ready through initiatives like e-courts and AI-driven tools, which will help overcome language barriers. Our civilization carries a deep commitment to justice, embedded in our constitutional framework,” said Meghwal.