At a significant event commemorating the centenary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s law practice, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud raised concerns about the challenges faced by individuals from rural and marginalized backgrounds in entering the legal profession. He specifically pointed out the limitations imposed by the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is conducted exclusively in English.
“Our CLAT examination, which is the bedrock for entering the legal profession, is entirely conducted in English. Now, with the very fact that the medium of examination is in English, we are making our profession urban-centric and wholly and completely biased against those who come from rural or marginalised backgrounds,”
CJI Chandrachud stated.
This issue has gained traction, with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pending in the Delhi High Court seeking to conduct CLAT in regional languages. The Bar Council of India has supported this initiative and offered to conduct the test in regional languages. The National Testing Agency has also informed the High Court of its capability to hold CLAT in various regional languages.
CJI Chandrachud also criticized the discriminatory practice of selecting clerks only from national law schools. He described the steps taken to reorient the clerkship scheme, including the preparation and implementation of a white paper. Additionally, he highlighted collaborative efforts between the Supreme Court and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) to launch structured internship programs for tribal students.
At the event, CJI Chandrachud also reflected on Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy, stating,
“Dr. Ambedkar really belongs to all of us. Gone are the days when we can say that the people call him the leader of the untouchables. The more one reflects on his life and teachings, one realizes that his efforts were not only to bring social reform or mobilize his own people, but his efforts were to reform Indian society itself.”
He further emphasized the collective responsibility in bringing social and gender justice, saying,
“Bringing social justice to the marginalized is not the project of the marginalized alone. Just like bringing gender justice is not a project for only just for women but it is a project for all of us. In that sense, I think we are all reforming ourselves and healing ourselves in our effort to heal society.”
Addressing the inclusivity of the legal profession, CJI Chandrachud posed critical questions about its true inclusiveness and the level playing field for young lawyers. He urged the legal community to introspect and take steps towards creating a more inclusive profession.
On the topic of gender representation in the judiciary, CJI Chandrachud noted the underrepresentation of women in the higher judiciary, attributing it to the state of gender representation in the legal profession in past decades. However, he expressed optimism for the future, citing the increasing number of women judges in the district judiciary.
The event also marked the unveiling of Dr. Ambedkar’s statue by President Droupadi Murmu as part of the Constitution Day celebrations, symbolizing the quest for equality. The Supreme Court’s webpage added a special section about Dr. Ambedkar, featuring details of his life, cases argued by him, links to his speeches, and photos.
