Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has called upon lawyers across the country to uphold the constitutional vision of justice and continue the legal profession’s historic commitment to public service. Speaking during Independence Day celebrations organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the CJI reflected on the profound contribution of lawyers to India’s freedom struggle and stressed that the responsibility of the legal fraternity remains as significant today as it was during the fight for independence.
Justice Surya Kant observed that India’s freedom movement was deeply intertwined with the legal profession. He noted that many of the nation’s foremost leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Motilal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, and other prominent freedom fighters, came from legal backgrounds and used the language of law to challenge colonial authority.
According to the CJI, lawyers were instrumental in building a constitutional order where both citizens and state institutions would remain accountable to the rule of law. Their efforts helped establish a framework in which individual rights and freedoms are protected by the Constitution and enforced through independent institutions.
Justice Kant emphasized that the legal profession’s responsibility did not end with the achievement of independence. Rather, it evolved into a constitutional duty. He stated that members of the Bar must continue ensuring that grievances reach the courts and that justice remains accessible to every citizen, regardless of social or economic status.
Addressing young lawyers and law graduates, the CJI urged them to carry forward the legacy of those who used legal advocacy as a tool for social transformation. He cautioned against viewing advocacy merely as a profession and instead encouraged lawyers to see themselves as custodians of constitutional values and democratic institutions.
The CJI further observed that while India has made significant progress over the decades since independence, important challenges remain. The legal fraternity, he said, must continue strengthening public confidence in the justice system, defending constitutional freedoms, and ensuring that the law remains connected to the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens.
The address serves as a reminder of the enduring role of lawyers in preserving democratic governance and the rule of law. By invoking the historical contribution of legal professionals to the nation’s freedom movement, the CJI underscored the continuing relevance of constitutional ideals in contemporary India.