Justice Mittal remarked that the statue of Lady Justice has been altered — the new Lady Justice statue at the Supreme Court of India is now dressed in a saree instead of the traditional robe.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Supreme Court Judge Justice Pankaj Mittal has suggested that to make justice truly Indian, the statue of Lady Justice should not only hold the Constitution but also the Gita, Vedas, and Puranas. He said this would represent the “Indianisation” of justice in the real sense.
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Speaking at the 1st NLIU-SBA Law Conclave held at the National Law Institute University (NLIU) on Saturday, Justice Mittal shared thoughts on how the Indian judiciary is gradually adopting Indian values and symbols in place of colonial ones.
He said, “If three books – Gita, Vedas and Puranas – in addition to Constitution are kept in hand of Lady justice statue, it will be ‘Indianisation’ of Justice in true sense.”
Justice Mittal praised the steps taken by the Supreme Court under the leadership of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, saying, “SC has ‘Indianised’ the judicial system of the country under supervision of former CJI DY Chandrachud.”
Traditionally, the blindfold on the Lady of Justice represented equality before the law. It implied that courts are impartial, unable to see wealth, power, or any other indicators of status of those appearing before them. The sword, on the other hand, was a symbol of authority and the ability to punish injustice. However, the new statue, commissioned at the behest of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, challenges these conventional symbols and advocates for a more evolved understanding of justice.
According to sources close to the Chief Justice’s office, Justice Chandrachud is a strong proponent of moving beyond the colonial legacy that has long influenced India’s legal system. This is evident not only in the new statue but also in recent legislative reforms, such as the replacement of colonial-era criminal laws with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
“Therefore, the Chief Justice said that the form of the Lady of Justice should be changed. He said the statue should have the Constitution in one hand and not a sword, so that a message goes out to the country that she dispenses justice according to the Constitution,” a source shared.
He highlighted two key initiatives under this Indianisation process: first, translating judgments into multiple languages, and second, updating the design of the Lady Justice statue.
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“Firstly, by translation of all judgements in 13 languages and by changing the lady justice statue.”
He described how the traditional image of Lady Justice has been reimagined to better represent Indian culture.
Now, the statue wears a saree instead of a robe, holds the Constitution instead of a sword, and her eyes are open instead of being blindfolded. These changes reflect a shift from colonial influence to an Indian identity.
“The statue of lady justice has been changed.”
“The new Lady Justice statue in India’s Supreme Court has a saree instead of a robe, holds the Constitution instead of a sword and has open eyes instead of being blindfold.”
“These changes symbolise a departure from colonial influence and a move towards a more Indian representation of justice.”
Justice Mittal also mentioned how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping to make justice more accessible by translating court judgments into regional languages.
“Through help of Artificial intelligence (AI), all judgements have been translated in 13 languages.”
Meanwhile, Chief Justice (CJ) of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Suresh Kait, also addressed the gathering and spoke about the deeper meaning of law beyond technicalities.
He said, “Law is not merely about statutes and procedures; it is about empathy, reasoning, and the pursuit of fairness.”
He emphasised that being a good legal professional is not just about academic knowledge but also about human qualities like courage, patience, and humility.
“It demands not only academic rigour but also the courage to question, the patience to listen and the humility to grow.”
CJ Kait appreciated the students’ efforts in organising the conclave and saw it as a positive sign for the future of the legal profession.
“When students take the initiative to organise platforms of thought, dialogue and critical engagement, it means that the future is in safe and capable hands.”
He added that real legal education goes beyond the classroom and grows through open discussions and creative thinking.
“It reflects a legal education that is not bound by classrooms but enriched by conversations, collaborations and creativity.”
