ADDRESS BY THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT DROUPADI MURMU AT THE RELEASE OF THE PUBLICATIONS BY THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

I congratulate everyone who has contributed, directly or by way of helping, to the publications released today.

I am happy to note that the Supreme Court of India has been organising very purposeful activities and events to commemorate the 75th year of its founding. Holding of Lok-Adalats at the Supreme Court and organising a conference of district level judicial officers are but just two examples of addressing the ground realities related to our justice delivery system. I commend the CJI for such initiatives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The members of the Constituent Assembly would have thought about the events of the decades behind them just as we are looking back at the last 75 years of our judicial history. The experiences of suffering imperial arrogance, like those caused by the bitter opposition to the Ilbert Bill and the passage of the Rowlatt Act, would have hurt their sensibility. They conceived the Judiciary of Independent India as an arm of the social revolution which would uphold the ideal of equality. Equal justice and getting rid of the now redundant colonial practices should be the guiding principles for our judiciary. While continuing with the useful aspects of the pre-independence jurisprudence, we should remove the legacy over-burden.

As we celebrate the 75th year of the Supreme Court of India, I share the view of those who admire the contribution of the Court as the conscience-keeper of Independent India. The Supreme Court of India has developed a jurisprudence which is rooted in the Indian ethos and realities. I have been told that the book titled ‘Justice for the Nation,’ released today, captures the high points of the Supreme Court’s journey of 75 years. It also describes the impact of the Supreme Court on various aspects of the lives of the people.

Our justice delivery system must strengthen our onward march as a just and fair society. I am glad to observe that the report on working of legal aid cells, released today, is devoted to the legal aid clinics operating in law schools in our Country. I understand that such legal aid clinics contribute to imparting holistic legal education to our youth and sensitize them to the needs of the vulnerable segments of our society.

The status of under-trial prisoners has been an abiding concern for me. I am happy that the report on prison system, released today, seeks to understand the role of the judiciary in reducing the number of undertrial prisoners.

I hope that the publications released today will help realize the objectives of free legal aid and prison reforms, besides educating the people about the exceptional role played by the Supreme Court in our journey as a Republic. I congratulate the members of Bench and Bar, past and present, for making the Supreme Court of India the great institution that it is. I wish the apex Court of India a greater future ahead.

Thank you, 
Jai Hind! 
Jai Bharat!