CJI BR Gavai Unveils Portraits of Former Attorneys General Lal Narayan Sinha and Shanti Bhushan at Supreme Court

Addressing the ceremony, CJI Gavai called it an honour to commemorate “two towering personalities of the legal profession,” describing them as lawyers of “exceptional brilliance” and “citizens whose pledge to the Constitution defined their very lives.”

Recalling Lal Narayan Sinha’s pivotal role in shaping constitutional law, Justice Gavai said his arguments in landmark cases such as Golak Nath and Kesavananda Bharati “helped shape the very soul of our Constitution.” He credited Sinha with anticipating the constitutional debates that led to the evolution of the Basic Structure doctrine, “the bedrock of our democracy.”

The Chief Justice also highlighted Sinha’s role in Hussainara Khatoon, where his arguments helped establish the right to a speedy trial under Article 21, and his remarkable advocacy in Tulsiram Patel v. Union of India, where he “turned the tide of a Constitution Bench from opposing to supporting his proposition.”

Turning to Shanti Bhushan, CJI Gavai hailed him as a “distinguished statesman of the Bar” whose courage and integrity “strengthened the foundations of Indian democracy.” He noted Bhushan’s contribution as Union Law Minister (1977–79), when he played a pivotal role in restoring democratic values after the Emergency and co-founded the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, pioneering the PIL movement in India.

Justice Gavai also highlighted Bhushan’s historic advocacy in Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain, where he argued that Parliament’s amending power could not destroy the Constitution’s Basic Structure. “His contribution in preserving judicial review and free elections as the heart of our Republic is remarkable,” he said.

Sharing a personal note, CJI Gavai recalled watching Shanti Bhushan argue as a young lawyer in Mumbai and later appearing before him as a judge during the pandemic. “I was always impressed by his brilliant arguments and persuasive skills,” he said.

Concluding the ceremony, CJI Gavai remarked that the portraits “are mirrors of our constitutional conscience” and thanked Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh for arranging the event on Shanti Bhushan’s 100th birth anniversary.

“These portraits will remind us that true distinction is earned through a lifetime devoted to justice, ethics, and the fearless pursuit of truth,” he said. “The values embodied by Shri Lal Narayan Sinha and Shri Shanti Bhushan will continue to guide generations of lawyers and judges in upholding the Constitution," the CJI added.