The Supreme Court Bar Association, headed by senior counsel and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, has strongly protested the “radical changes” effected without taking it into confidence over the changes in the Supreme Court-anew emblem and a redesigning of the statue of Lady Justice.
The association passed a resolution that the initiative of a museum within the area where it requested a lawyers’ café is being strongly opposed. It is reported that, notwithstanding this objection, work on the museum has commenced.
The resolution said,
“The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association observes that the recent unilateral changes that have been effected, such as the new emblem and alterations to the Lady Justice statue, without any consultation with the Bar, as equal stakeholders in the administration of justice, we were not taken into confidence as to what motivated the said changes”.
The association, while repeating the demand for a library and café-lounge for its members, states that the present cafeteria is insufficient to meet their needs. “We unanimously oppose the proposed museum in the High Security Zone and reiterate our demand for essential facilities for our members,” the resolution adds.
Its design differs from that of the previous Lady Justice statue-most notably-no blindfold is worn, and the sword in her left hand has been replaced with a replica of the Constitution. It tries to say that the law is not blind but all-seeing as regards all people. The reason it replaced the sword was because the sword signifies violence, which the court would not like to use to dispense justice; it wants to do so through constitutional methods.
The statue of Lady Justice, acclaimed worldwide and found in all courts, generally carries scales to represent balance, a blindfold to denote impartiality, and a sword to suggest swift and final justice. Over time, different countries have made changes to the statue.
Sources close to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud say he favours discarding the British legacy in legal symbolism. “The Chief Justice feels that the form of Lady Justice must change. Instead of a sword, the statue holds a Constitution to show that justice is done under the constitutional laws of the land,” said a source. The scales remain as they are – showing the balance in society and symbolizing how arguments from both sides must be weighed before the court gives a decision.
Along with a host of changes, the Supreme Court has also unveiled a new logo and flag. The blue flag carries the Ashoka Chakra, the building of the Supreme Court, and the Constitution along with a Sanskrit verse ‘Yato Dharmastato Jai,’ which means ‘Where there is Dharma, there is victory’.
