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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kashmir is paradise on earth, Sufism promoted secularism: CJI Gavai
SRINAGAR: Chief Justice of India Justice B R Gavai on Sunday described Kashmir as 'Paradise on Earth' and said that Sufism has truly promoted secularism in the country. While addressing the North Zone Regional Conference of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in Srinagar, the CJI began his speech with the famous Persian couplet: 'Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast' (If there is a paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here and it is only here). 'I am happy that I am again getting the opportunity to meet you in Kashmir, which is known as paradise. Whenever I have visited Kashmir, I have received love from everybody,' he said. 'I feel like I have come to my hometown. I am thankful for all the love and affection showered on me. I have been to all parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh,' he added. 'Kashmir's valleys, mountains, rivers, streams, if we see these, it can be safely said that Kashmir is a true paradise.' The CJI spoke about Kashmir's 3,000-year-old civilisational heritage and its rich culture. He credited Sufism for upholding the values of secularism as enshrined in the Constitution of India. 'Sufism has truly promoted secularism,' he asserted. Referring to secularism in Jammu and Kashmir, the CJI said, 'In Dargahs, every section of society, including Hindus, Muslims or Sikhs, go. Similarly, people of every religion go to Mandirs and Gurudwaras.' Justice Gavai lauded the efforts of NALSA and the J&K Legal Services Authority for convening the interaction. He also reflected on the legal and administrative foundation laid in the region as early as 1846, calling it one of the oldest and most structured legal systems in India. 'From 1928 till before the independence of the country, a high court had been established here and the Maharajas here also respected the orders passed by the high court,' he said. 'In the country's Constitution, we have promised ourselves justice, political, social and economic. We are bound to see that justice is implemented in its true spirit. The legal fraternity needs to have a commitment to the true values of the Constitution,' he added. The CJI said that while Babasaheb B R Ambedkar brought about political justice by adopting the principle of 'one person, one vote and one value', the author of the Constitution also spoke about social compartmentalisation and the difficulty of moving from one compartment to another. 'Our society has been divided into different compartments. The entry from one compartment to another is nearly impossible. On the economic front, our wealth is concentrated in a few hands while the vast majority of the people find it difficult to have two meals a day. We will have to eliminate this inequality and bring about social and economic equality in the true sense. We all have to remain committed to this — whether it is the executive, legislature or judiciary. We are bound to see to it that social and economic justice is implemented in true spirit in this country,' he said. Indirectly referring to the situation in Kashmir over the last 35 years, the CJI said there have been aberrations that need to be undone. 'There have been aberrations, but we have to work to remove these. This dialogue between judges and lawyers will give a new perspective. I am sure this programme will help in rebuilding the traditional and undivided Kashmir where all communities, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, used to live together,' he said. Asserting that lawyers and judges are like two wheels of the golden chariot of justice, the CJI said, 'If you span one wheel, the efficacy of the entire chariot comes to a standstill. For this, lawyers and judges should work together to give justice to the people who live in the last village of this country. Unless people have the knowledge of their rights, the rights are of no use.' In a key policy suggestion, the CJI urged the Chief Justice of the J&K High Court to consider establishing a separate bench for the Union Territory of Ladakh, acknowledging the consistent demand raised by the Ladakh Bar.
Malay Mail
02-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Are we intolerant of criticisms? — Hafiz Hassan
JUNE 2 — On the same day (May 30) the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) announced that it would pursue contempt of court proceedings against senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) heard contempt proceedings against YouTuber Ajay Shukla for airing scandalous allegations against a senior Supreme Court judge. The SCI had taken suo moto cognisance of the issue the day before. Suo moto is Latin for 'on its own motion'. So, it was the SCI who initiated the contempt proceedings, not the Attorney-General of India. Shukla is the editor-in-chief of a digital channel. In a recent video, he allegedly made remarks about a Supreme Court judge. The SCI considered the remarks 'scandalous allegations widely published on YouTube [which] are likely to bring disrepute to the august institution of judiciary.' During the contempt proceedings before a bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices A.G. Masih and A.S. Chandurkar, the SCI observed that while the Indian Constitution guarantees free speech, it is subject to reasonable restrictions. Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah speaks during a press conference at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on January 6, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif A person cannot make contemptuous allegations defaming a judge of the Supreme Court under the guise of free speech. It is detrimental to the judiciary. Now, if contempt proceedings are taken against Shafee for his 'Nazi Germany' remarks, are we being intolerant of criticisms? What say you? * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice BR Gavai takes charge as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice BR Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday morning in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the new CJI. Justice Gavai becomes the first Buddhist and only the second CJI belonging to the Dalit community after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who retired as CJI in 2010. Justice Gavai will serve as CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai hails from a family deeply rooted in Ambedkar's principles. His father, RS Gavai, was a prominent leader of the Republican Party of India and served as the Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala. Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it Undo A bench, headed by the new CJI, on Thursday will take up petitions challenging the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. Live Events
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Justice B R Gavai takes oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), in presence of President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, becoming the first Buddhist to head the country's judiciary. He succeeds CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on Tuesday, and will have a tenure of a little more than six months, retiring on November 23, 2025 when he turns 65. Justice Gavai is also the second person from the Scheduled Caste community to hold the position, after Justice K G Balakrishnan. Since its establishment in 1950, the Supreme Court has only had seven judges from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. Justice Gavai has often invoked the spirit of the Constitution to acknowledge how affirmative action has shaped his identity. 'It is solely due to Dr B R Ambedkar's efforts that someone like me, who studied in a semi-slum area at a municipal school, could attain this position,' he had said in a speech in April 2024. When he ended that speech with a chant of 'Jai Bhim,' the judge received a standing ovation from the crowd. Justice Gavai was elevated as a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019. Ever since, he has been a part of several Constitution benches that have delivered landmark rulings. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which, in December 2023, unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Another five-judge Constitution bench of which Justice Gavai was a part annulled the electoral bonds scheme for political funding. Born on November 24, 1960, at Amravati, Justice Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. He joined the Bar on March 16, 1985, and worked with Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and Bombay High Court Judge, till 1987. After 1990, he practised mainly before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in Constitutional and Administrative Law. He was the standing counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University.
India Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Justice BR Gavai to take oath as Chief Justice today, first Buddhist in the role
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai will take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) today, becoming the first Buddhist CJI and only the second judge from the Scheduled Castes to ascend to the nation's highest judicial elevation is both historic and symbolic, representing the values of inclusivity and constitutional morality that the judiciary Gavai will serve as the CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. As he dons the mantle of CJI, all eyes will be on him — not just for the judgments he delivers, but for the legacy he Justice Gavai has been part of several important benches that have passed crucial orders, including those condemning bulldozer actions and laying down stringent norms to curb such was also part of the Constitution Bench that delivered landmark verdicts, including:Upholding the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government,Striking down the electoral bonds scheme,Upholding the Centre's 2016 demonetisation move, among others.A bench led by Justice Gavai granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case — a ruling that became the basis for granting bail to other accused in the same case. He also presided over the bench that stayed Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the Modi surname defamation case, and granted regular bail to civil rights activist Teesta Atul Setalvad in a case related to the 2002 Godhra MORE ABOUT JUSTICE GAVAIadvertisementJustice Gavai was born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati and joined the Bar on March 16, practiced independently at the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990, after which he primarily appeared before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High served as Standing Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He also worked as an Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court from August 1992 to July 1993. Later, he was appointed Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a permanent judge on November 12, 2005. He presided over benches dealing with all types of assignments at the Principal Seat in Mumbai and at the Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, to the Supreme Court's website, in the last six years, Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 benches dealing with a wide range of matters, including constitutional and administrative law, civil law, criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration, electricity, education, and environmental has authored around 300 judgments, including Constitution Bench verdicts, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental, human, and legal rights of citizens.
