CJI B.R. Gavai stressed that justice must reach people’s doorsteps, not remain in halls of power, urging decentralisation and swift, affordable access to justice for all citizens.
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ITANAGAR: Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai on Sunday reaffirmed that the judiciary, legislature, and executive exist solely to serve the people and ensure that justice is delivered swiftly and at minimal cost.
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Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed Gauhati High Court, Itanagar Permanent Bench building, CJI Gavai said,
“Neither the courts, nor the judiciary, nor the legislature exist for the royals, judges, or members of the executive. We all exist to give justice to the people.”
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While advocating for decentralisation, CJI Gavai stressed that justice must reach the doorsteps of citizens, particularly in geographically remote regions like the Northeast. He commended successive Chief Justices of the Gauhati High Court for their sustained efforts in making justice more accessible. He said,
“I have always been a staunch supporter of decentralisation. Justice should reach people’s doorsteps.”
Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s unity in diversity, Gavai praised the state’s efforts to preserve and promote the traditions of its 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes.
“The country must progress, but not at the cost of our culture and traditions. It is our fundamental duty to preserve them,”
he said.
CJI Gavai recalled his visits to several northeastern states, sharing a deeply personal moment from a recent visit to shelter homes in strife-torn Manipur.
“A woman told me, ‘You are welcome to your home’. It touched my heart because India is one, and for all Indians, India is their home.”
Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gavai reminded citizens that the Constitution is the ultimate ‘dharma granth’ for every Indian.
“India first and India last”,
he quoted, adding that every citizen’s first allegiance must be to the Constitution.
He also emphasised Ambedkar’s view that political equality without economic and social equality is meaningless, stressing the constitutional safeguards in Schedules V and VI for protecting the culture and traditions of the Northeast’s tribal communities.
Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ashutosh Kumar noted that the new building is more than just infrastructure, it is a “temple of Constitutional morality”.
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“Let Arunachal be the place where justice comes first without delay, just as it witnesses the first sunrise,”
he said.
The Rs 135.35 crore state-of-the-art complex, built by the Public Works Department, houses five modern courtrooms and world-class facilities. Construction began in February 2021, following the foundation stone laid by Chief Minister Pema Khandu in 2018.
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