News Mania / Piyal Chatterjee / 19th October 2024
In a major shift from its colonial background, the Supreme Court (SC) of India unveiled a redesigned replica of the “Lady Justice” statue. The new statue, which was previously portrayed with a sword and blindfold, now shows a “Lady Justice” with wide eyes and the Indian Constitution in place of the sword, signifying the judiciary’s dedication to constitutional principles and justice that “sees everyone equally,” according to NDTV.
More than just a cosmetic alteration, the removal of the blindfold from “Lady Justice” represents a change in the way the Indian judiciary perceives justice in the present day. In a daring declaration spearheaded by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, the blindfold—long linked to impartiality and equality before the law—has been replaced with open eyes.At the unveiling, CJI Chandrachud stated, “The law is not blind; it sees everyone equally.”
Supreme Court sources claim that this shift represents a changing legal identity that rejects colonial symbols and adopts a distinctively Indian view of justice. The renovated monument, which now stands proudly in the judges’ library, represents an inclusive, watchful, and conscious judicial system.
The new ‘Lady Justice’ is also notable for substituting the Constitution for the sword. The Constitution has replaced the sword, which once stood for power and punishment, and represents a change to a more moral and just system of justice. As the cornerstone of the judiciary’s function, the Constitution stands for the preservation of equality, rights, and justice above merely exacting revenge.
The ‘Lady Justice’ revamp is part of a larger initiative by the Indian judiciary to move past its colonial heritage. This movement is highlighted by recent legal reforms, such as the replacement of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). CJI Chandrachud has been outspoken in advocating for a departure from British-era laws and symbols, highlighting the judiciary’s protective role of constitutional rights rather than its punitive one.
As noted by a source close to the Chief Justice, “Justice Chandrachud believes that India should move forward from the British legacy, and that the law is never blind; it sees everyone equally.” This philosophy is embodied in the redesigned ‘Lady Justice,’ which now represents the Constitution as the ultimate source of justice.
One element of ‘Lady Justice’ has not changed in spite of the modifications: the scales in her right hand, which still stand for the balance of justice. These scales represent the objective evaluation of the data, guaranteeing that all sides are given equal weight prior to a decision being made.
