CJI Gavai urges lawyers, law firms: Give equal opportunities to graduates from marginalized communities

The Chief Justice of India has urged lawyers to ensure that they provide equal opportunities in their chambers and firms to legal graduates from marginalized communities. We must also create conditions that allow them to thrive and succeed, the CJI added.

On women in the profession, the CJI has said, "Should lawyers be reluctant to hire women because of assumptions about maternity leave, time constraints, or perceived “commitment issues”? Absolutely not. Such biases are unfair and counterproductive. Lawyers have a duty to ensure that the principles they advocate in court and in public life are reflected in their own workplaces and professional conduct."

Delivering his Keynote Address at the 38th LAWASIA Conference held at Hanoi today on the topic, “Role of Lawyers and Courts in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion”, the Chief Justice of India noted that lawyers responsibility extends beyond merely securing a favorable outcome in any given case. 

"We must also reflect on whether the arguments that we advance contribute to expanding the values enshrined in the Constitution. By representing clients from historically excluded or marginalized communities, lawyers have the power to challenge entrenched social hierarchies and longstanding inequalities. In doing so, they play a vital role in promoting diversity and inclusion, not only within the legal system but across governance, public institutions, and society at large. Every case thus becomes an opportunity to uphold justice, transform norms, and strengthen the constitutional promise of equality for all", CJI added.

Justice Gavai also reflected on the influence of four individuals on him which has been particularly profound: Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, and his father, R.S. Gavai.

He added that being born into a low-caste family, it meant that he was not born untouchable as the Constitution recognized his dignity as equal to that of every other citizen, offering not just protection, but the promise of opportunity, freedom, and social recognition. 

"Without the Constitution and its unequivocal prohibition of caste-based discrimination, my journey would have faced far greater obstacles. It is because of these constitutional safeguards that I was able to pursue education and a career in law and ultimately serve as a judge. My own life stands as a testament to the transformative power of equality and the promise of social justice enshrined in our Constitution, demonstrating that when the law safeguards dignity, it can change the trajectory of a person’s life", CJI highlighted.

Reflecting on his personal journey as lawyer, CJI recollected an instance where he had represented an individual from a low-caste community in which no one had ever become a doctor. "The appointment he sought was more than just a routine claim. It was a breakthrough for him and for his entire community. I was able to help secure his appointment, and what may have seemed like an ordinary case to some became a milestone of progress and hope. For that individual, it was a new beginning; for his community, it was a journey toward possibility," he recounted.

On articulating these principles not just in judgments but also in the administrative policies of the Court, CJI referred to his affirmative action post assuming office in the recruitment of administrative positions within the Court. "I directed that marginalized communities receive their due share in all administrative appointments, and that these policies be applied consistently and transparently", he added.