Supreme Court at 75: CJI Khanna hails it as true people’s court responsive to conscience of democracy
As the Supreme Court celebrated its 75th anniversary, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna hailed it as a true people’s court, “responsive to the conscience of democracy”.
“What began in 1950 as a successor to the Federal Court, has evolved into perhaps the world’s most vibrant and dynamic apex court, one that truly embodies the aspirations and diversity of 1.4 billion Indians,” CJI Sanjiv Khanna said, addressing a ceremonial bench to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first sitting of the Supreme Court of India.
“What sets our Supreme Court apart on the global stage is its unique character as a true people’s court. The court remains accessible to the common public, and in its diversity of the judges in these courtrooms, the multitude of voices find representation at the highest level of our judiciary,” the CJI said.
The CJI traced the Supreme Court’s transformative journey over the past 75 years, highlighting its adaptability and commitment to constitutional values. He noted that the court has navigated an expansive domain, from personal liberty to environmental issues, and has transformed the constitutional promise of justice into a living reality for millions of Indians.
“Seventy-five years after our constitutional journey began, the Supreme Court stands transformed, yet anchored in its foundational mission. This transformation reflects a deeper recognition – that justice must be both principled and practical. In doing so, it makes the constitutional promise of justice – social, economic, and political – a living reality for millions of Indians. Over the seven-and-a-half decades, this court has transformed the constitutional promise into a reality through its judgments,” he said while sitting with all 33 judges of the Supreme Court.
Highlighting the challenges faced by the judiciary, he said, “While the court’s journey reflects remarkable evolution in rights and reach, three challenges demand our attention. First, the weight of arrears which continues to delay justice. Second, mounting costs of litigation threatens true accessibility. Third, and perhaps the most fundamental, justice cannot thrive where and when falsehood is practised. These challenges mark the next frontier in our pursuit of justice.”
Dividing the top court’s journey into five periods — Sunrise Years (1950s); Years of anchorage as well as discovery (1960s); Years of turbulence leading the way to social justice and equality jurisprudence (1970s and 1980s); Era of consolidation and expansion of Fundamental Rights (1990s); and 2000s till today, the CJI said, “Each decade of our court’s jurisprudence serves as a mirror to our nation’s challenges.”
He said, “In 1950, when we adopted the Constitution, the three wings of the government were assigned distinct responsibilities. The monumental task was to transform a newly independent nation into embodying the values, the ethos and the morality of our Constitution.”
The CJI added, “In 1960, the sanctioned strength of the court was expanded to 14. The most significant judicial event in the 1960s turned on the interpretation of a single word – ‘law’ – in Article 13 of the Constitution of India. Article 13 provides that laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights are, to that extent of inconsistency, void.”
Talking about 1970s and 1980s, he said, “Acceptance of public interest litigation diluted the principle of locus standi to actualise the right of access to justice for all citizens – importantly the most marginalised.”
Justice Khanna said, “The 1990s ushered in an era where the Supreme Court not only remained vigilant in protecting individual rights but also stepped in to address legislative and executive gaps.”
About the 2000s till today, the CJI said, “The two decades of the 21st century stand as a testament to the Supreme Court’s evolving role in our constitutional framework. No other apex court worldwide navigates such an expansive domain – from personal liberty to environmental issues, from intellectual property rights to privacy to the Right to Information.”
Quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, Justice Khanna said, “Constitutional morality has to be embodied in nation building, it has to be cultured in a nation like India where everything is new-born.”
Attorney general R Venkataramani and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal also spoke on the occasion. Sibal heaped praise on the top court for having no hesitation in deciding cases as per law since its inception, without undue favour to the all-powerful state and with no regard to the political popularity of the policies in question.
