CJI B.R. Gavai urged for the revival of Kashmir’s pluralistic legacy and stressed the need to empower citizens through legal awareness, saying only an informed population can truly realise and exercise their constitutional rights.
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai made a passionate call for the revival of Kashmir’s pluralistic heritage and emphasized the urgent need to make legal rights meaningful through informed citizenship.
Speaking at the Northern Region Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Sunday, he highlighted the crucial role of legal awareness in transforming constitutional rights into tangible justice.
In a heartfelt address delivered in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, CJI Gavai stated,
“Unless people are aware of their rights, these rights have no meaning.”
His comments come at a pivotal moment as the legal and social landscape of Kashmir undergoes changes following systemic reforms aimed at rebuilding trust.
Addressing an audience of judges, lawyers, and public officials at the NALSA conference, CJI Gavai underscored that legal institutions must collaborate to ensure justice reaches even the most remote areas of the country.
Noting that NALSA is actively advancing legal aid outreach to distant regions, he said,
“Judges and lawyers have to work together to ensure justice for the last citizen of the country,”
He emphasized that democratizing legal knowledge is not just an institutional responsibility but a national necessity to strengthen the constitutional framework.
Turning his attention to Kashmir, the CJI recognized the challenges the region has faced over the last three decades. While refraining from naming specific incidents, he called for healing and the rectification of past injustices.
He remarked,
“There have been some anomalies, but we have to work to remove them. This interaction between judges and lawyers will provide a new perspective,”
Reflecting on the Kashmir of earlier times characterized by interfaith unity among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs Justice Gavai asserted that the judiciary could play a pivotal role in restoring that harmony.
Sharing his experiences from his travels throughout Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, Justice Gavai expressed a profound emotional connection with the region.
Complimenting the people of the two Union Territories for their warmth and inclusivity, he said,
“It feels as if I have come to my hometown,”
He reaffirmed his belief in the region’s pluralistic essence,
“The Sufi tradition here promotes secularism enshrined in our Constitution. Dargahs, temples, and other places of worship are visited by people of all faiths. This embodies the spirit of India,”
In response to concerns raised by bar representatives from Ladakh, Kashmir, and Jammu, the Chief Justice acknowledged that while he could not intervene directly, he would relay their issues to the appropriate authorities, including the Collegium.
In conclusion, CJI Gavai reiterated the importance of institutions like NALSA in bridging the gap between rights and real access to justice, particularly in areas that have historically lacked legal infrastructure.