Constitution Day Archives - Lokmarg

Do Something For People Languishing In Jails For Petty Offences: Prez

By LokMarg 26th November 2022

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday urged courts to help people languishing in jails for petty offences who are not aware of their fundamental rights or fundamental duties that are laid down in Part IV-A of the Constitution.

The President made the remarks while addressing the valedictory function of the ‘Constitution Day’ celebrations, organized by the Supreme Court in the national capital.
President Murmu said, “
Aap logon ko uske liye kuchh karna chahiye. Saalon saal nahi chhuratein hain unko
. (You [courts] should do something for these people. They are languishing in jails for many years).”

The President added that such prisoners have been languishing behind bars for petty offenses such as slapping.

She also pointed out that many, who have taken the lives of others are roaming free but those booked for petty offenses are still lodged in jails.

President Murmu said, “Increasing the number of jails does not qualify as development. We should introspect, instead, on why there should be jails in the first place.”

She said the courts are for the people and by the people and, hence, must think about the people.

Getting emotional as she spoke about her childhood days in her native village, President Murmu said villagers hold three professions — teaching, medicine, and law — in high regard. She said doctors and lawyers take professional vows to help people in need.

She said as Jharkhand governor, she had the opportunity to work for people languishing in jails for petty offenses.

She also acknowledged the contributions of the former chief justice of Jharkhand High Court DN Patel and the chief of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority Pradip Kumar Mohanty, in this regard. (ANI)

For Timely Justice, Our Judiciary Is Taking A Lot Of Steps: Modi

By LokMarg 26th November 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that for timely justice, the Indian judiciary is taking a lot of steps such as e-initiatives launched today to ensure ease of justice for all.

During the Constitution Day celebrations program in the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister also launched various new initiatives under the e-court project. The project is an effort to provide services to litigants, lawyers, and the judiciary through the ICT enablement of courts.
The initiatives launched by the Prime Minister include Virtual Justice Clock, Justis mobile App 2.0, Digital court, and S3WaaS Websites.

The day has been celebrated as Constitution Day since 2015, to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

“Our country as the “mother of democracy”, is strengthening our constitutional beliefs. With the strength of Pro-People Policies, we are empowering the poor, marginalized, and women with simplified laws. The eyes of the entire world are on India. Rapid development, rapid economic growth… the world is applauding India,” said PM Modi while addressing the event.

The Prime Minister further said that our biggest strength is our Constitution. “We the people” in our constitution aren’t just three words but is a belief.”

“For timely justice, our judiciary is taking a lot of steps… including the e-initiatives that were launched today, ensuring ease of justice for all,” PM Modi.

He said that everyone should enhance India’s prestige before the world and bring its contribution before them.

“New opportunities are coming up before India. Crossing all hurdles, it’s going ahead. A week from now, India will get the G20 presidency. It’s big! As Team India, all of us should enhance India’s prestige before the world and bring its contribution before them. It’s our collective duty,” he said.

The Prime Minister said, “I congratulate all of you for the e-initiatives and ensuring access to justice. Mahatma Gandhi used to say that our rights are our duties. In this “Amrit Kaal”, the countrymen have to fulfill their duties.”

He said that the spirit of India’s Constitution is youth-centric and the development of the country is on the shoulders of the youth.

“Our constitution is open, futuristic, and known for its progressive views. The spirit of our constitution is youth-centric. The development of our country is on the shoulders of the youth. From sports to startups, from information technology to digital payments, Yuvashakti is contributing to India’s progress,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister also urged youths to take part in debates and discussions on Constitution to understand the constitution better.

“To make the youth understand the constitution better, I urge them to participate more in discussions and debates regarding the constitution. The youth must know of the constituent assembly debates. It will strengthen India,” he added.

He said that the constituent assembly included 15 women.

“From Durgabai Deshmukh to Hansa Mehta to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, all were instrumental in empowering the women of India,” he said.

PM Modi said that the vision for Amrit Kaal is a judicial system in which it is easy and speedy justice for all. (ANI)

No Institution In A Democracy Is Perfect: CJI Chandrachud

By LokMarg 25th November 2022

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday while talking about the Collegium system of appointing judges, said that no institution in a democracy is perfect.

“No institution in a Constitutional democracy is perfect. We work within the existing framework of the Constitution and we are faithful soldiers who implement the Constitution,” said the CJI while speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Merely reforming the Collegium system of the apex court or increasing the salary of judges will not ensure that good and qualified people join the court.

“Getting good people in judiciary is not just about reforming the collegium…” the CJI said, adding that lawyers joining the bench as judges is a call of conscience and a commitment to the public.

He said that system has to make the office of a judge appealing to young lawyers.

CJI said November 26, 1959, was an important day because it was when the constituent assembly adopted the Constitution. The process of nation-building is a constantly evolving task, he said.

Constitution is constantly evolving to meet the new social realities of the time, CJI said.

He further said that the working of the Constitution depends on how the district judiciary is working. When we celebrate the Constitution we must be conscious of histories prior to the adoption of the Constitution, he added.

CJI said the legal profession must shed away its colonial underpinnings and in a country like India where summers include extreme heatwaves because of climate change we must reconsider the strict dress code for lawyers, especially in summers. The strictness of attire should not lead to moral policing of women lawyers, he added.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also attending the event said that a country progresses in the visionary guidance of its leaders.

“If leaders become weak, the country becomes weak. If CJI becomes weak, Supreme Court becomes weak and if Supreme Court becomes weak, the judiciary becomes weak. I congratulate Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and know the judiciary will rise under him,” Rijiju said.

He said he is committed to creating better infrastructure in the country.

“Independence of the Indian judiciary is untouched. We are here to protect it. Hum sab Ek hai. Aapas mein ladna theek nahi hai. (We are all the same, we should not quarrel among ourselves),” he added.

Attorney General R Venkataramani said that we need to see what justice needs of different sections of the community and restructure fundamentally our court system, our law framing, and our law reforms.

It is time we have a permanent Law Commission which is assisted by the best quality of experts, he said. (ANI)