CJI Chandrachud delved into the impact of social media on societal divisions and the judiciary’s pivotal role in transcending these differences.
On Wednesday in a profound address during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new Telangana High Court complex, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud delved into the impact of social media on societal divisions and the judiciary’s pivotal role in transcending these differences. The ceremony, marking a significant milestone, took place adjacent to the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University at Rajendranagar, heralding a new era for the legal landscape in Telangana.
He said,
“We may belong to different ideologies, regions, cultures, backgrounds, and religions, but the most important thing that marks us out of us as lawyers is the great syncretic tradition in India, which is we rise above our birthmarks, which defines our existence. Our birthmarks are our reasons for existence, but as lawyers and judges, we rise above those birthmarks, in the senses, our universal identity, which is a quest for justice, in a framework, governed by the rule of law. Something that stands out in our institution is our universality, and our ability to stand with each other and pursue a common quest for justice, which is truly the hallmark of the judiciary and the bar which is the biggest tributary of the judiciary.”
CJI Chandrachud, in his insightful speech, acknowledged the diverse backgrounds from which lawyers and judges emerge, including different ideologies, regions, cultures, and religions. He emphasized,
“But the most important thing that marks out all of us lawyers is the great syncretic tradition in India which is that in the work that we do, we rise above our birthmarks which define our existence. Our birthmarks are our reason for existence but as lawyers and as judges who come from the bar, we rise above those birthmarks in the sense that our identity is universal identity which is the quest for justice in the framework of the Constitution governed by the rule of law.”
Highlighting the challenges posed by technology and social media, CJI Chandrachud pointed out,
“In the world around us, as we find so many differences, I think technology and social media exacerbate those differences between people but something that stands out within our institution is our universality, our ability to stand with each other and our ability to pursue a common quest for justice. That is truly the hallmark of the judiciary and of the bar which is one of the richest tributaries of the judiciary in our country.”
The CJI further elaborated on the High Court’s role as a vibrant public space for the contestation of ideas, values, rights, and obligations, underlining the supremacy of the judiciary.
“The High Court represents not only a public space for contestation but also represents a public space where reason, dialogue and the art of persuasion and traditions are still valued,”
he stated, emphasizing the dignity with which judges and lawyers operate, which in turn defines the institution’s dignity.
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Reflecting on his experiences with district courts, CJI Chandrachud highlighted the infrastructural deficits, including the lack of basic amenities for women and young judges. He underscored the importance of creating spaces that foster a sense of belonging and self-worth among judges and lawyers, which are essential for the judiciary’s evolution.
Addressing the broader societal implications, CJI Chandrachud stressed the need for judicial infrastructure to be inclusive, catering to the needs of women, the differently-abled, young mothers, and traditionally excluded communities. He remarked,
“We must all remember that public spaces often reflect pre-existing social inequalities in our society. Our infrastructure sometimes reflects subtle signs of exclusion.”
In the context of India’s digital divide, the CJI lamented the uneven access to the internet, smartphones, and laptops, which poses challenges to the legal community and citizens alike. To bridge this gap, he digitally launched 32 eSewa kendras of the district judiciary of Telangana, marking a step towards enhancing digital accessibility in legal services.
The event was graced by Supreme Court judges Justice PS Narasimha, Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, and Justice SV Bhatti, along with Telangana High Court’s Chief Justice of Justice Alok Aradhe, showcasing the judiciary’s collective commitment to advancing justice and equity in the digital age.
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