Former CJI DY Chandrachud called Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian oil imports from Russia a “new challenge to our sovereignty.” He urged youth to safeguard diversity and stressed judges must heal society with empathy.
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has described the decision of former U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a 50% tariff on India for buying oil from Russia as one of the “new challenges to our sovereignty.”
Justice Chandrachud was speaking as the chief guest at the 79th Independence Day celebrations of the Meghalaya High Court. In his address, he compared the early challenges faced by independent India with the modern difficulties confronting the nation.
He recalled how, after independence, India was dealing with questions of survival, food scarcity, and the challenge of uniting the princely states.
He said,
“We had different challenges when we became independent. Food was one of them ..would we survive as a nation was another ..we were 565 plus princely states and all of them had to be brought together which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel did ..but those were the challenges our founders faced and we overcame those challenges.”
Shifting focus to present-day issues, Justice Chandrachud stressed that the idea of sovereignty is now being tested in new ways.
He remarked,
“We now have new challenges to deal with ..like hostilities from across the border as Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor reminded us.. then our own sovereignty is questioned through new avenues …whether I can buy oil from a country which sells it to me at competitive rates and which is in the interest of my economy is sought to be dictated by a foreign power that’s the new challenge to our sovereignty …our ability to take decision as to what we will buy or can buy from across the globalised world which will best subserve a resilient, modern and strong India.”
Justice Chandrachud underlined that independence is not just about freedom from British colonial rule but goes deeper into personal and national growth. He stated,
“Independence is more than freedom from colonial rule, describing it as an ‘internal liberation of the mind and spirit.’”
Encouraging the younger generation, he urged them to preserve India’s unique diversity and use their energy for the betterment of society. According to him,
“Urging the youth to safeguard India’s diversity, he called for channelising their entrepreneurial energy into self-motivation and nation-building.”
Talking about the role of the judiciary, Justice Chandrachud said that judges have a special duty to heal divisions in society not only through judgments but also through compassion.
He stressed,
“Sometimes, just giving a citizen a patient hearing is an act of healing.”
He went on to praise the Meghalaya High Court for being an important protector of citizens’ rights. He said the court acts as a “sentinel of governance” and builds a bridge between law and people in a culturally rich state. He also highlighted India’s progress in several areas including education, infrastructure, and food production. Commending recent improvements, he noted,
“Improved connectivity between Guwahati and Shillong, he noted, was a visible sign of progress.”
Through his speech, the former CJI reminded Indians that sovereignty in today’s world is not only about guarding borders but also about having the freedom to take economic decisions without outside interference.
He emphasised that India’s strength lies in resilience, inclusivity, and the ability to grow as a modern nation while staying true to its constitutional values.
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