Law Is No Longer Blind: New Statue In Supreme Court!

Controvery Over New Statue In Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India recently replace the statue of Lady Justice traditionally placed in the library with the one that is more Indianized. The new figurine has exhibited a couple of new changes that are symbolically significant; she no longer has her blindfold. But not everyone has taken the redesign to their hearts. The change of perception of Lady Justice has elicited some concern from some individuals asking whether a change of image in this kind of way breaks any lack of partiality that is embraced in the image of Lady Justice.

💥💥 New Justice Statue In Supreme Court, A 'Law Is Not Blind' Message pic.twitter.com/is9T5yoiny

— CA Bimal Jain (@BimalGST) October 16, 2024

The Lady Justice symbol gradually cropped up in the course of the British Colonial administration of India’s legal system. Since then, it became an imperative icon for the judicial branch of the government.

The present Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud ordered a new statue of Lady Justice for the Supreme Court.

Vinod Goswami told that in a span of weeks of talking and drawing on paper, Nyay Devi was conceptualized and planned as the new best India in terms of culture and artistry. One of them, however, is the replacement of the blindfold on the statue of Lady Justice with the eyes that can be opened. This shift, as said by CJI Chandrachud, was meant to emphasise judiciary ‘s devotion to justice that ‘sees all equally’. While inaugurating it he said, “The law is not blind; it sees everyone equally.”.

Also, there is one major distortion that has been made and that is the sword has been replaced by the Indian Constitution. A source from the Chief Justice’s office explained the reasoning behind this: “He (Chandrachud) said the statue should have constitution in one hand and not a sword, so that a message goes out to the country that she deliver justice according to constitution. The sword is a symbol of violence, but courts dispense justice as provided for in the constitution as proclaimed by NDTV.

The woman Statues: The Lady Justice statue is also not spared on outfit change as well. The western outfits have been exchanged for a saree and Indian accent jewelry. However the balance of justice meaning being fair and just is still untouched in her right hand.This change is part of a bigger move to disassociate India’s legal system from colonialism that is similar to changing the Indian Penal Code to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The new statue of Lady Justice has been installed and represents a justice system that is awake, observing, and culturally sensitive.

Following the statue’s inauguration the Indian Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal thanked Chief Justice, stating that the new design was a good initiation of the constitution. The Constitution has replaced the handheld sword as the blindfold has been lifted from the statue of justice. The new design is very good to commemorate the constitution of the country. My greetings to the CJI for this,” he said.This is propaganda and a campaign of BJP and RSS, said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. He then criticised the Supreme Court, posing the rhetorical question: “What are they trying to demonstrate by swapping the sword that is held in the hand of justice statue with the Constitution of the country?”

VIDEO | "The Department of Justice runs in Jaisalmer House in Delhi. There was a statue there, which was replaced by that of Dr BR Ambedkar on April 14... this was all over the media and a lot of debate was done. At one time, it was said that law is blind. Why? Justice is done as… pic.twitter.com/doHQLu0XKB

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 17, 2024

“They are already killing the constitution and by removing the burka or the covering over her eyes they want people to see corruption clearly and the killing of the constitution,” noted Raut. Another said: “What the lady justice of India needs most is a ‘clock’… on Indian courts.” The victim whose face was masked also noted that removing the blindfold, was an indication of a lot of self awareness; the law in India, according to him is far from impartial. However, others celebrated the new statue as the “historic day for India’s judiciary” in favor of the arrival of the new figure for justice.

#WATCH | On the new justice statue in the Supreme Court, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "The court's job is to protect the constitution and serve justice as per the constitution. But is it happening in the SC? What are they trying to prove by replacing the sword in the hand… pic.twitter.com/iG184otwau

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2024