CJI B.R. Gavai Calls for Restoration of Kashmir’s Pluralistic Legacy Through Legal Empowerment

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Saturday called for the revival of Kashmir’s rich pluralistic legacy and emphasised the need to enhance legal awareness among citizens to make constitutional rights meaningful.

He was speaking at the Northern Regional Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) held in Srinagar.

“Unless people are aware of their rights, these rights have no meaning,” the Chief Justice said, underscoring the significance of spreading legal literacy, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Stating that he was visiting the Kashmir Valley for the first time as Chief Justice of India, Justice Gavai said he experienced a sense of warmth and belonging.

Referring to the region’s historically inclusive character, he remarked that Kashmir has always remained a vibrant centre of different religions, faiths and sects.

“The Sufi tradition here promotes secularism enshrined in our Constitution. Dargahs, temples, and other places of worship are visited by people of all faiths. This embodies the spirit of India", the CJI said.

Highlighting the need to look ahead, Justice Gavai noted, “There have been some anomalies, but we have to work to remove them. This interaction between judges and lawyers will provide a new perspective"

Recalling the well-known phrase associated with Kashmir, he said, “If there is a paradise on Earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.” He added that he felt as if he had come to his hometown, and praised the people of Kashmir as “loving and helpful.”

The conference was organised by NALSA in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority and the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Senior judges and legal services authorities from northern states participated in discussions on strengthening access to justice.

CJI Gavai also urged legal services institutions to extend their outreach to people living in the most remote parts of the country, including those in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, the Northeast, and tribal regions, so that the benefits of the Constitution are truly accessible to all.