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Ambedkar's Constitution is India's lifeline, says Chief Justice of India BR Gavai
Hyderabad: Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Saturday asserted that the Indian Constitution has stood the test of time ensuring national unity, justice, and resilience through war, peace, and change, while paying a powerful tribute to BR Ambedkar's constitutional legacy.
Delivering a lecture at Osmania University on 'The Constitution of India: The Contribution of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar,' CJI Gavai said Ambedkar was often criticised during and after the framing of the Constitution, with detractors calling it either 'too centralised' or 'excessively federal.' But Ambedkar convincingly argued that the Constitution was carefully balanced to protect India's unity while accommodating its diversity, the CJI emphasised.
'Ambedkar told the Constituent Assembly that they were giving the country a Constitution that would keep it united in both war and peace. The past 75 years have proved him right,' he said, referring to India's endurance despite external aggression and internal disturbances.
Acknowledging criticism about the Constitution being either too rigid or too liberal, Justice Gavai recalled Ambedkar's measured response: 'We cannot expect the Constitution to remain unchanged forever; we must also leave room for future generations to address evolving societal and economic challenges through suitable amendments.'
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Highlighting Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to constitutional remedies, the CJI quoted by quoting Ambedkar's famous line: 'If there is one article without which the Constitution would be null, it is Article 32.' He called it the Constitution's soul, empowering citizens to directly approach the Supreme Court for protection of their rights.
462 degrees, gold medals given away at convocation
A total of 462 degrees (232 in person and 230 in absentia) and diplomas were awarded.
Fifty-eight gold medals were awarded on the occasion by CJI Gavai, CM Revanth and other dignitaries.
On the federal structure, Justice Gavai explained that, unlike the United States, India adopted a single Constitution for all states to preserve national unity and integrity. He further explained that Ambedkar chose a 'one nation, one Constitution' approach to preserve unity, even in the face of regional divisions and the trauma of Partition.
He reminded the audience that Ambedkar himself was elected from a constituency that became part of Bangladesh after Partition—yet his commitment was always to a unified India.
The CJI also emphasised the role of the Directive Principles of State Policy, calling them the moral compass of the Constitution. Though not legally enforceable, these principles guide lawmakers to build a just, inclusive society. 'We are not giving a Constitution to help any party gain power, but to build a nation founded on justice for all,' he said.
Owing to the limited time available to speak on a subject so close to his heart, Justice Gavai expressed his desire to return to Osmania University after his retirement in Nov to delve into the topic in greater detail.
Prior to the CJI's address, Supreme Court judge Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, an alumnus of OU, acting Chief Justice of Telangana high court Sujoy Paul, advocate general A Sudarshan Reddy, and OU vice-chancellor Prof Mogula Ram Kumar also spoke at the event.
The convocation was attended by judges of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh high courts, retired judges, judicial officers, members of the bar, faculty, and students of the university.
