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Synopsis

The Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana in his speech at the independence day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association said that the apex court has inherited the backlog of nearly a year on account of covid and lockdowns.

Recollecting that even his family members could not attend his swearing-in ceremony last year, the CJI said, "I wish the situation was different and we could be more productive. It is just and natural for people to have high expectations, but forces of nature were against us".

He stated that in the last 16 months, the top court could physically assemble for just 55 days. CJI hoped that in near future, the situation will become normal and courts will function to their full potential. Appreciating the work done by the judges and the staff at the Supreme Court, CJI said, "When COVID was taking away our near and dear ones, our entire system worked fearlessly to deliver justice". CJI said that both lawyers and judges worked without any break online and offline.

Speaking of the VC hearing CJI said, “Under the guidance of the computer committee, our video conference system continued to evolve. Brothers Justice Chandrachud and Justice Khanwilkar gave necessary guidance to the team.” He thanked the registry and staff for working hard during the pandemic and recollected how some staff in the Supreme Court lost their lives.

The CJI, while remembering Pingali Venkayya, who designed India’s national flag, said, “It is he who designed the pride and identity of Independent India, our National Flag.” Speaking of the lawyers who fought for India’s independence, CJI noted that lawyers like Mahatma Gandhi fought their battles from the courts to the streets.

He said, "The voices of these nationalist lawyers against the colonial laws and unlawful detentions touched the nerve of the nation and gave a new impetus to our freedom struggle". Speaking of the Constitution, CJI said that the notion that justice is only the responsibility of the Court is removed by Article 38 of the Constitution which mandates the State to secure justice of all sorts. 

Noting that all organs of the State have an important role to play, CJI said, "I must note that all the three organs of the State, i.e., the executive, legislature and the judiciary, are equal repositories of Constitutional trust." Praising the judiciary, he observed that the Indian judiciary, since its inception, has strived to fulfill its constitutional aspirations. CJI said that the people are confident that they will get relief and justice from the judiciary. He observed, "It gives them the strength to pursue a dispute. They know that when things go wrong, the judiciary will stand by them."

Speaking of the Supreme Court he noted that it is the guardian of the Constitution in the world’s largest democracy. CJI said that the Constitution gives wide ranging powers and jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to do complete justice. He said, "This power to do absolute justice under Article 142, brings to life the motto of the Indian Supreme Court, 'Yato Dharma Sthato Jaya' that is 'Where there is Dharma, there is Victory'."