Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, while speaking at the Milan Court of Appeal in Italy, emphasised that the Indian Constitution is much more than a political or governance document.
He called it a “revolutionary statement” – a ray of hope for a country that has emerged from the shackles of colonial oppression, poverty, inequality and deep social divisions.
Delivering a lecture on “Role of Constitution in providing socio-economic justice in the country: Reflections on 75 years of Indian Constitution”, the CJI proudly said that the makers of the Indian Constitution were fully aware of the critical need for socio-economic justice.
“It was the promise of a new beginning, where social and economic justice would be the central goal of our country. At its core, the Indian Constitution upholds the ideals of liberty and equality for all,”— CJI BR Gavai
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He referred to the Directive Principles of State Policy, highlighting them as a powerful expression of the Constitution’s commitment to social and economic justice. He underlined that in the early years of Independence, many constitutional experts had doubted the feasibility of such an ambitious document. He particularly mentioned Sir Ivor Jennings, who criticised the Constitution, saying it was “too long, too rigid and too detailed.”
However, Justice Gavai emphasised:
“The Constitution of India has played a major role in advancing socio-economic justice for its citizens.”
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The CJI elaborated on how Parliament enacted several laws to implement the Directive Principles and how the judiciary expanded the interpretation of fundamental rights. He said the Constitution has always attempted to uplift the life of the common citizen.
“In other words, the journey of the Indian Constitution over the last seventy-five years in providing socio-economic justice is a story of great ambition and significant successes.”
Citing agricultural reforms and affirmative action, he explained how these efforts dismantled feudal structures and provided justice to historically disadvantaged communities such as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Land reforms broke the monopoly of the few and distributed access to land and livelihoods, while reservations helped ensure representation.
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“The Constitution has given us the vision, the tools and the moral guidance. It has shown us that the law can indeed be a tool for social transformation, a force for empowerment, and a protector of the vulnerable.”
Concluding his speech, CJI Gavai quoted civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
He added:
“It bends that way only when we actively work to bend it ourselves.”
