CJI BR Gavai said the collegium system has made India’s judiciary strong and free from interference, rejecting the claim that judges appoint themselves. He credited Dr BR Ambedkar’s Constitution for preserving India’s unity and democratic values.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai said on Saturday that the collegium system has helped India maintain a strong and independent judiciary.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a symposium titled “Constitution and Constitutionalism: The Philosophy of Dr BR Ambedkar,” organised by Allahabad University. During the event, he was honoured with a citation for his contribution to the judiciary.
ALSO READ: Failure to Clear Doubts of Infidelity Amounts to Mental Cruelty, Says Delhi High Court
CJI Gavai explained that while the Constitution states that judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court are appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justices of states and the Chief Justice of India, the collegium system has evolved through judicial interpretation over time.
He said that this unique system ensures the judiciary remains independent and free from interference by the executive or Parliament.
He addressed the common criticism that India is the only country where judges appoint themselves, calling it incorrect.
He said,
“No doubt that we have always been criticised that this is the only country where judges appoint themselves but this allegation is not true. While making the appointment of judges, the views of the state governments, the central government, the governor, the chief minister of the state, the law department and the IB are all taken on board by the collegium and wherever the reservations expressed by the government are found to be with basis, the collegium always gives due respect to it,”
CJI Gavai further praised Dr BR Ambedkar’s Constitution, stating that it has played a key role in keeping India strong and united.
He added that neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have faced instability, but India has remained firm because of the strength of its Constitution.
He said that the Indian Constitution has successfully guided the nation for more than 75 years, through both internal challenges and external pressures, helping India stay united as envisioned by Dr Ambedkar.
Justice Gavai remarked that India’s unity and democratic values owe much to Ambedkar’s vision. He said the Constitution continues to stand the test of time and remains the foundation for India’s progress and stability.
Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath, who was the guest of honour at the event, described Dr Ambedkar as
“the visionary who gave India its moral and constitutional compass.”
Justice Nath said few people in history have blended intellect, compassion, and leadership as effectively as Ambedkar.
He said,
“Dr Ambedkar was not merely the chief architect of the Indian Constitution but also the draftsman of modern India’s democratic conscience. He transformed the abstract ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity into a living philosophy of governance that continues to guide us today,”
He also spoke about Ambedkar’s belief in the importance of education and intellectual growth.
Justice Nath said,
“To Dr Ambedkar, true freedom was not merely the right to vote or equality of opportunity but the liberation of the mind from ignorance, prejudice and fear. He believed that the progress of a nation depended on the progress of its people’s minds. A society may have laws, but without proud, educated, and enlightened citizens, those laws are meaningless,”
Justice Arun Bhansali, Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, praised Ambedkar as a
“visionary whose life and work laid the very foundation of modern India.”
He said Ambedkar’s work went far beyond writing the Constitution and represented a larger movement for social reform and justice. Justice Bhansali added,
“As the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Ambedkar’s vision went far beyond the drafting of a legal document. It was a revolutionary charter for social transformation.”
He also emphasized that Ambedkar saw the Constitution as a moral guide for the nation.
ALSO READ: Employee Can’t Demand Return After Joining Transfer Post, Rules Chhattisgarh High Court
He said,
“To Ambedkar, the Constitution was not merely a text of governance but a moral promise to build a just nation grounded in equality and fraternity,”
Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor Sangita Srivastava presided over the event. Before the symposium, the CJI, along with Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Arun Bhansali, inaugurated several new facilities at the university, including the new Chemistry building, a lecture theatre complex, and a reading hall in the central library.
Later in the day, CJI Gavai also visited Kaushambi and attended the annual function of a local school, where he interacted with students and teachers.
Click Here to Read More Reports On CJI BR Gavai
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
