Gavai, who took his oath as CJI on May 14, was in Mumbai for a felicitation event organized by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
A day after Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai expressed his disappointment over senior Maharashtra officials not being present during his visit, Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has spoken strongly about the importance of following proper protocol when it comes to top constitutional posts.
The Vice-President made these remarks on Monday while speaking at the launch event of a book titled The Constitution We Adopted, which is edited by Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria.
Addressing the gathering, Vice-President Dhankhar said:
“This morning, I was reminded of something which is very critical in the country and that is not for oneself. What the present Chief Justice said. We must believe in protocol. Chief Justice of the country and protocol is placed very high. When he indicated that, it was not personal, it was for the position he holds. I hope this will be kept in mind by one and all.”
His remarks came just a day after Chief Justice Gavai expressed serious displeasure over the absence of key government officials, including the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. They failed to receive him during his first official visit to Maharashtra after becoming the 52nd Chief Justice of India.
On Sunday, CJI BR Gavai had shared his disappointment during a public event. He pointed out that he wasn’t insisting on being welcomed personally, but highlighted that respect for the position of the Chief Justice and for the judiciary as a whole must be maintained.
He clarified that he was not demanding protocol for himself but underlined that other important organs of democracy should show respect to the judiciary, which is a crucial pillar of the Indian Constitution.
Supporting the Chief Justice, Vice-President Dhankhar also shared a personal example of how he too has experienced the effects of not being given due protocol.
He said:
“In a sense, I am also a sufferer. You would have seen photos of the President and the Prime Minister, but not of the Vice-President. Once I demit office, I will ensure it that my successor has a photograph. But I am really beholden to the Chief Justice for inviting the attention of the people to bureaucracy. Adherence to protocol is fundamental.”
Both leaders — the Chief Justice and the Vice-President — have emphasised that following protocol is not about personal ego, but about showing proper respect to constitutional roles and the democratic system.
They reminded everyone that in a democracy like India, where the Constitution is the supreme law, the functioning of all top offices, including the judiciary, must be treated with dignity and seriousness.
The Vice-President’s statement also brought focus to the conduct of bureaucrats and the need to remain committed to institutional values and respect, regardless of who holds the office.
Gavai, who took his oath as CJI on May 14, was in Mumbai for a felicitation event organized by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.
Following his remarks, all three officials were present when Gavai visited Chaityabhoomi in Dadar to pay his respects to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the renowned social reformer and chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
Also Read: CJI Gavai Vows to Uphold Constitution and Rule of Law During His Tenure
At the Bar Council event, Gavai indicated that while he did not wish to focus on minor protocol issues, he emphasized the importance of mutual respect among the three branches of democracy.
He stated,
“If the Chief Secretary of the state, DGP or Mumbai police commissioner does not want to come there, when the CJI, who is from Maharashtra, has arrived for the first time, it’s up to them to think about whether it is right or not.”
He highlighted that respect from other branches of government towards the judiciary is crucial and clarified that he was not demanding strict adherence to protocol.
Gavai noted,
“When a chief of an organ or institution is coming for the first time to the state, especially when he too belongs to the said state, whether the treatment they gave was right or not, they themselves should think.”
While he described the matter as minor, Gavai felt it necessary to bring it to light so that the public is aware.
He humorously added,
“If it were someone else in my place, then the provisions of Article 142 would be considered.”
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to issue orders deemed essential for delivering complete justice in any case before it, including securing the attendance of individuals.
Later, CJI Gavai paid tribute to Dr. Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi, where Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, DGP Rashmi Shukla, and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti were all in attendance. Gavai, a native of Maharashtra, is the second Dalit to lead the Indian judiciary, following K.G. Balakrishnan.
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