In a historic move, the Supreme Court of India is set to unveil a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a pivotal figure in Indian history, on its premises on Constitution Day, November 26. This event, marked by the presence of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, as the chief guest, signifies a momentous recognition of Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions.
Also read- Supreme Court Addresses Bench Scrutiny And PMLA Powers: A Detailed Analysis (lawchakra.in)
The decision to install Dr. Ambedkar’s statue came after persistent demands from a group of Ambedkarite lawyers. Earlier this year, on the eve of Dr. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, advocate-on-record Pratik Bombarde submitted a memorandum to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, advocating for this cause. This wasn’t the first instance of such a request; the struggle for Dr. Ambedkar’s recognition in the Supreme Court has historical roots.
“History tells us that in the [19]70s under the leadership of [politician and social worker] Dadasaheb Gaikwad, we Ambedkarites had to struggle for the installation of his statue inside the Parliament. And we are now struggling for many years for the installation of a statue of Babasaheb inside the Supreme Court,”
the memorandum stated.
CJI Chandrachud, while paying floral homage to Dr. Ambedkar, emphasized the importance of carrying forward his mission.
“Our commitment is to the constitutional values which he espoused with all his heart and mind. It is now for the future generations to take up the baton and pursue all the ideals which Dr. Ambedkar fought for. We have a true icon for our reference. All his words, whether it was in the Constituent Assembly or even in his own writing, are as significant today as they were in those times. It speaks about the great vision of Dr. Ambedkar that he not only envisioned society for then when he was speaking but also for the future as well,”
he remarked.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, present at the function, also echoed the demand for Dr. Ambedkar’s statue on the Supreme Court premises. The CJI had assured to look into the matter, acknowledging the existing statues of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and M.K. Gandhi on the premises.
The installation of Dr. Ambedkar’s statue is one of the three prominent demands of the Ambedkarite lawyers. They have also been advocating for the constitution of a caste sensitization committee in the Supreme Court to protect lawyers and registry employees from caste-based discrimination. Additionally, they seek the permanent inclusion of Ambedkar Jayanti, celebrated on April 14, as a court holiday in the Supreme Court’s calendar.
On December 6 last year, the Ambedkarite Lawyers wrote to the CJI demanding the installation of Dr. Ambedkar’s statue on the Supreme Court’s lawns. Dr. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist, social reformer, and political leader, was the head of the drafting committee for the Constitution and served as the first Union Law and Justice Minister. He inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
Pratik Bombarde expressed gratitude for this initiative, stating,
“We want to congratulate and express our gratitude to the CJI for taking this historical initiative. It will be a symbol of the constitutional values and philosophy of this country.”
This unveiling is not just a tribute to a great leader but a reaffirmation of the constitutional values and ideals Dr. Ambedkar championed, serving as a beacon for future generations.
