Courts are also educators, every judgment a lesson in democracy: CJI Gavai

The Chief Justice of India has observed that courts, are not only institutions of adjudication; they are also educators of constitutional consciousness. 

"Judges, through their words and reasoning, contribute to the public’s understanding of justice, equality, and liberty. In this sense, every judgment is a lesson in democracy and an invitation to citizens to engage with their Constitution", the CJI has said while speaking at the Fifth Wisdom for Future Talk Series (hosted by the JSW School of Law) at Royal Institute of Management (RIM) on the topic “Courts and Constitutional Governance”.

As judges, the CJI has urged that they must remain conscious of this educative role, while being mindful of the delicate balance between judicial aloofness and social engagement. Even while maintaining the dignity and impartiality that our office demands, we can still contribute meaningfully to the spread of constitutional awareness, he said.

The CJI discussed the judiciary’s responsibility of promoting constitutional literacy and cultivating public understanding of constitutional values. 

"Too often, our attention remains confined to the immediate outcome of a case or its impact on the parties involved. Yet, the true influence of judicial decisions extends much further. Each judgment becomes a point of reflection, a subject of public dialogue, and a catalyst for civic awareness. It shapes how citizens perceive their rights, their duties, and the moral foundations of their democracy", the CJI added.

On the courts active and indispensable role to play in the system of constitutional governance and in fulfilling the mandate of the Constitution, the CJI said, "The judiciary contributes to this process not merely by interpreting constitutional text, but by serving as a mediator between institutions, as a guardian of fundamental rights, and as a protector of the environment and collective welfare. Courts thus occupy a unique position: they are entrusted with the duty of upholding constitutional balance while ensuring that the spirit of justice pervades governance itself."

CJI also highlighted that most enduring role of courts in constitutional governance is to sustain public faith in the rule of law. He further said judicial authority ultimately rests not on coercive power, but on moral legitimacy: the trust and confidence that citizens place in the impartiality, independence, and integrity of the judiciary.

"Public trust is the judiciary’s most valuable asset. It is what transforms judicial decisions from mere legal orders into instruments of social conscience. By upholding this trust, courts become not only interpreters of law but custodians of democracy, guarding both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution", he has remarked.

CJI Gavai also referred to the acclaimed Indian film “The Lunchbox” released in 2013, in which Ila, a young homemaker in Mumbai repeatedly expresses her desire to leave behind the noise, chaos, and monotony of city life and move to Bhutan, a land she imagines as peaceful, serene, and truly happy.

"Watching this film prompted me to reflect on what makes Bhutan so unique why its people, and indeed those who dream of it, associate it with contentment, balance, and a deep sense of well-being. This sense of harmony, between the material and the moral, between the individual and the collective, lies at the heart of the shared philosophical inheritance that binds India and Bhutan", CJI added.

The event was also attended by Her Royal Highness, Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, who serves as Hon’ble President, JSW School of Law, His Excellency Norbu Tshering, the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Bhutan. Mr. Sangay Dorjee, the Founding Dean of the JSW School of Law, and Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court of Bhutan were also in attendance.