Constitution helped in country’s transformation: CJI Khanna

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday praised the Constitution of India for its pivotal role in the country’s transformation from a struggling post-independence nation to a vibrant democracy and geopolitical leader. Speaking at the Constitution Day function organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), CJI Khanna emphasized that India’s journey—from widespread illiteracy and poverty to becoming a self-assured global leader—was significantly shaped by the Constitution.

“The Constitution has helped this transformation. It is today a way of life that has to be lived up to,” said Justice Khanna, reflecting on the progress India has made since the horrors of partition.

Since 2015, November 26 has been observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of India’s Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949, replacing the earlier Law Day observance. During the event, Attorney General R. Venkataramani and SCBA President Kapil Sibal also addressed the gathering.

Justice Khanna highlighted the integral role of the Bar in the judiciary, stressing that the judiciary represents both judges and lawyers. “You are as much part of the judiciary as the judges,” he said, noting his own experience as a member of the Bar from 1983 to 2005, which he described as longer than his tenure as a judge.

He also spoke about the legacy of the Supreme Court, citing landmark decisions in areas such as environmental law, privacy, fundamental rights, and the basic structure doctrine, many of which, he said, would not have been possible without the contributions of the Bar.

Addressing issues faced by Bar members, Justice Khanna outlined several initiatives, including the installation of notice boards displaying physical cause lists and improvements to Wi-Fi services in the Supreme Court. He also addressed concerns regarding the circulation of adjournment requests, noting a significant reduction in the number of such requests under the new system.

“We have received about 1,400 applications in the new system in the last 11 months, compared to 9,000 to 10,000 requests every three months under the previous system,” he said, urging the Bar to continue offering suggestions for further improvements.

Justice Khanna concluded his address by urging introspection, acknowledging both the successes and challenges faced by the judiciary. “Let us unifiedly tackle those issues with both the Bar and the judiciary contributing,” he said, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation.