Today, On 14th April, Justice BR Gavai remarked, “Even though I belong to an Suvarna Class, I proudly refer to the Constitution as Bhimsmriti,” highlighting his respect for Dr Ambedkar’s vision. He shared this during a lecture on Ambedkar’s contribution to nation-building.
On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai delivered the Dr Ambedkar First Memorial Lecture, where he praised the Indian Constitution and the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
The topic of the lecture was Dr Ambedkar’s Contribution in Constitution and Nation Building.
Justice Gavai said that even though he belongs to an upper caste (Suvarna class), he proudly refers to the Constitution of India as Bhimsmriti, a tribute to Dr Ambedkar.
He stated,
“I also call the Constitution as Bhimsmriti even though I belong to the Suvarna class.”
During his speech, he also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public statements about how the Constitution enabled a person from a humble background to rise to the highest office in the country.
Justice Gavai said,
“The country has a prime minister who comes from a humble background of backward class and says it publicly that he is where he is due to the Constitution of India.”
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Justice Gavai praised Dr Ambedkar’s vision of a united India, rising above caste and religion. He said that Dr Ambedkar believed that the Constitution should not be changed according to the will of the ruling majority.
He quoted Dr Ambedkar’s concern, saying,
“Dr Ambedkar had noted that if amending the constitution is made into a liberal process… he said that Constitution cannot be allowed to be amended at the sweet will of the majority. If that is done, he said that it cannot be ruled out that ruling party shall push its agenda through the amendments.”
Justice Gavai also spoke about the importance of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment, which established the Basic Structure Doctrine.
He said the judgment should be celebrated for giving constitutional protection to both the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and the Fundamental Rights.
He said,
“Keshavananda judgment needs celebration for the basic structure doctrine and also the importance given to the directive principles of state policy [DPSP]. However, the bench refused to agree to the argument that DPSP needs to give way to the fundamental rights. It was stated that DPSP and fundamental rights is the soul of the nation. Many rights have been upheld by the Supreme Court, though not part of the fundamental rights but from the directive principles of state policy.”
Justice Gavai’s remarks highlighted the deep connection between the Constitution, equality, and Dr Ambedkar’s vision of justice for all.
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