Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Saturday urged judges and lawyers to ensure that India’s justice system reaches “every citizen, even in the remotest corners of the country”, underscoring the need to make the law inclusive, humane and accessible.
Delivering an address at the LAWASIA Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, on the theme “Role of Lawyers and Courts in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion,” Gavai said the legal fraternity carried the collective duty of strengthening the justice system and ensuring that it did not remain confined to metropolitan cities.
“The legal system and legal discourse must be accessible to every citizen, even those living in the remotest corners of the country,” the Chief Justice said, adding that inclusion is achieved only when “the common person can understand, relate to and feel connected with legal processes.”
He emphasised that the judiciary must lead by example, ensuring that the values it upholds in judgments are reflected in its administrative policies. “When I assumed office as the Chief Justice of India in May, one of my top priorities was to ensure that affirmative action in the recruitment of administrative positions within the court was implemented not just in letter, but in spirit,” he said. Gavai noted that marginalised communities must receive their “due share” in appointments, applied “consistently and transparently.”
Drawing from his personal journey, Gavai reflected on the transformative power of the Constitution. “For me, born into a low-caste family, it meant that I was not born untouchable. The Constitution recognised my dignity as equal to that of every other citizen, offering not just protection, but the promise of opportunity, freedom and social recognition,” he said.
He invoked the vision of Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and B R Ambedkar, who, he said, “turned the tide of destiny for millions who were historically marginalised and denied their basic rights.”
Also read: CJI Gavai calls shoe attack 'shocking' but a ‘forgotten chapter’
Urging the legal fraternity to dismantle workplace biases, the CJI said lawyers should not hesitate to hire women due to assumptions about maternity leave, time constraints, or “commitment issues.” “Such biases are unfair and counterproductive,” he said, adding that lawyers must practise the principles they advocate in court “in their own workplaces and professional conduct.”
Citing landmark verdicts such as the Supreme Court’s ruling granting permanent commission to women in the defence forces, Gavai said the judiciary had played a crucial role in ensuring the law promotes equality instead of perpetuating historical disadvantages.
As Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Gavai said he had directed his team to extend legal aid to “the farthest and most underserved regions of the country.” “The goal was clear, no individual should be deprived of their legal rights and every person must have access to necessary legal representation, guidance and support,” he said.
He also underlined the importance of mentoring young professionals from marginalised backgrounds, noting that inclusion goes beyond recruitment. “Mentorship should not be limited to recruitment alone. It must extend to providing guidance, empathy and sustained support,” he said.
“Recruiting a person without offering support, guidance or a nurturing environment undermines the very purpose of inclusion,” Gavai added, stressing that true inclusion “requires active effort, commitment and accountability from everyone who benefits from existing privileges.”
He concluded by observing that lawyers, more than judges, have the opportunity to connect with the public and act as “bridges between the law and the people”, ensuring justice is “not only delivered but also understood, accessible and meaningful.”
Follow us
