Thread by @barandbench

[Constitution Day function at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi]

Inaugural ceremony of Constitution Day celebrations
hosted by the Registry of Supreme Court of India to begin shortly

PM Narendra Modi, CJI NV Ramana to be in attendance

#supremecourt #ConstitutionDay
@PMOIndia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives #supremecourt #ConstitutionDay

Justice UU Lalit delivers the introductory speech
#supremecourt #ConstitutionDay

Justice UU Lalit: Exactly 72 years ago a sacred document was adopted by 24 founding fathers of this nation. It was preceded by 3 years of hard work ad extensive deliberation where great minds and souls had worked on this vision document
#supremecourt #ConstitutionDay

Justice Lalit: 26th JAN, 2 months later constitution came into force and then two months later Supreme Court sat for the first time in inside section of parliament. Nine chief justice of different High Courts attended it. Today again so many CJs of so many HCs are present here

Justice Lalit: our constitution was the work of founding fathers who toiled hard and constituent assembly debates are testimony to this. there have been 105 amendments till now.

Justice Lalit:Today we have 466 schedules and ten schedules, 3 more parts also got added. one was fundamental duties chapter and other was on adminstrative tribunals.

Justice Lalit: 4 regions got added to this schedule. what is of great importance is that except first one, the others were preceded either by police action or deliberation. we have seen this constitution underwent so many changes.

Justice Lalit: One was Kameshwar Prasad case regarding right to property, 44th amendment..one fundamental right got excluded but another got included which was right to education, now the mandate is every child must be given free and compulsory education

Justice Lalit: This constitution has given the feeling of building of the nation. its a document which shows strength of the nation. Dr Rajendra Prasad had said what we have given you is a fantastic document but it depends on the people who use it.

Justice Lalit: all constitutional functionaries have discharged their functions with elan barring a few exceptions. its this functioning that we celebrate on this Constitution Day.

SCBA President, Vikas Singh: Judiciary plays a role of interface between constitution and citizens of India. When NJAC was struck down it was on who has the right to appoint, constitution bench judgment speaks of Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) is needed

SCBA President: There is a need for a bill which will create secretariats in HC and Supreme Court, the collegium can prepare the rules and the secretariat can select names as per the rules. SCBA members who are so far neglected can also be looked at

SCBA President: I had prepared a draft bill and prepared @KirenRijiju Law Minister the same. I feel a parliamentary law for intra court appeal within SC to curb termination of appeal is needed now.

SCBA President: Many a times judgment under article 32 transgresses into executive domain and this intra court appeal will help remedy the situation. Regarding updating of laws, Centre has done a lot but still much has to be done to update the existing laws.

SCBA President: I feel person convicted of heinous offence should be barred for lifetime from contesting in elections and suitable amendments needs to be brought into the Representation of Peoples Act

Attorney General for India KK Venugopal: One question that has been asked over 75 years is that is #SupremeCourt really a constitutional court? SC has dealt with all cases from Hcs where there is an error or problem with the law.. t

AG: hen Supreme Court of india cannot be truly called a Constitutional court. We see pending crimianl cases from 2008 and civil cases from 2009. if its pending here since then ... it has been pending over decades in trial courts. so finally justice is done..

AG: so a total period of 30 years has passed. we need a bold person to fight a case in trial court

AG: From 2010 there has been proposal that #SupremeCourt cannot deal the number of cases it deals now. matrimonial cases, rent control cases etc has nothing to do with the constitution. suggestion given in 2010 was of courts of appeal.

AG: Most of common law countries there are intermediate court of appeals between SC and HC, and these courts absorb all cases which takes up time of Supreme Court of India. there are no appeals from courts of appeals. we need four such courts with 15 judges each and 3 benches

AG: Pendency in SC will reduce by great time. For Supreme Court of India, it will not need these 34 judges. then 15 judges sitting in 3 constitution benches of 5 judges each will be enough. Judges will be able to hear patiently and write excellent judgment

AG: Today we have 34 judges, but there was a prescient article written by Justice KK Mathew where he envisaged a Supreme Court with hundreds of judges. if this happens then its a failure to regulate court system

AG:Right to access justice, its a fundamental right and this access has to be within reasonable cost and time. 30 years is not a reasonable time. There is no use to brush this thing under the carpet ! does one understand the problem a litigant suffers when he comes to trial court

AG: We have inherited an extremely cumbersome system. there is a need to rethink the Supreme Court of India. cumbersome process has to be done away with. time has come for Govt and judiciary to put heads together since we cannot allow this present situation to continue

AG: We are only violating a fundamental right by allowing this system of court to continue #supremecourt

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks

@RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: most important feature of Indian Constitution is that it harmonizes the interests of all. democracy ensures that the mass has a stake in the development of this nation.

@RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: to commemorate this day, Law ministry has launched online course in Indian Constitution. this is to ensure every Indian has access to provision of the Constitution.

@RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: Although constitution is built on separation of power, it is also based on harmonious working of the three organs of the nation.

@RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: It is time we give due importance to fundamental duties. We deeply appreciate the contribution to all judges of our country during the pandemic. Supreme Court has emerged as global leader with more than 1.5 lakh virtual hearing

@RijijuOffice

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju: The High and lower courts had held almost 1.5 crore virtual hearings.

@RijijuOffice

CJI NV Ramana addresses the audience:

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: I bow to the memory of the members of the constituent assembly

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: "However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good"

B. R. Ambedkar

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: Today india is one of the major vaccine producers and leading exporters of vaccines and drugs. i salute each one of those who made this nation progress

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: Constitution made accountability a main feature of legislature and executive. judiciary was kept on a different pedestal and as an institution judiciary has lived upto the trust reposed on it and i credit the members of the bar and judges

#supremecourt

CJI NV Ramana: general perception that securing justice is the function of only judiciary is not correct, it depends on all the three organs. any deviation by legislature and executive will only cause more burden to judiciary

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: at times judiciary only nudges the executive and not don its role. portraying one institution against another institution will only create a misgiving for a democracy.

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: there is a need to launch massive drive to make citizens aware of constitutional rights and duties

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: a comparison is often drawn between judiciary between 1950s and now. this is unfair. the dynamic document has evolved 105 times till then. what we are now witnessing now is a totally transformed judiciary.

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: one outcome of this enrichment is the PIL. I dont know if anywhere in the world a simple letter can be taken up as a PIL. I know there are instances of publicity interest litigations, but that is due to occasional misuse

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: for protracting litigation, i welcome the suggestion of the Attorney General. there is alarming pendency of cases in lower courts, there has to be deployment of modern technology and infrastructure

#supremecourt #constitutionday

CJI NV Ramana: The time for creation of National Judicial Infrastructure authority has come which can used for properly allocating the budgetary funds for infrastructural development. I beseech the PM to help us develop state of the art court complex for lower courts

CJI: There are physical attacks on judges and also attacks on social media on judges. what i see is that these are motivated attacks and the law enforcement agency should look into this.

CJI: The judicial system as it exists now is colonial in nature and people should feel welcome in such a system. avoidable procedural barrier has to be done away with and more use of local language

CJI: it is heartening to note that only one vacancy is there in the Supreme Court. there are four women judges now in the top court and we hope the number only increases.

CJI: An area of grave concern for the judiciary is the increasing attacks on Judges. Physical attacks on judicial officers are on the rise. Then there are attacks on the judiciary in the media, particularly social media.

CJI: These attacks appear to be sponsored and synchronised. The law enforcing agencies, particularly the Central agencies, need to deal with such malicious attacks effectively.

CJI: The Governments are expected to create a secure environment so that the judges and judicial officers can function fearlessly.

PM Modi: Today morning i was with parliamentarians and now i am with members of judiciary. We all have different role and responsibilities and ways of functioning. but our aspiration and source of strength is the constitution. @PMOIndia

PM Modi: This country which was called a golden bird was at one point time struggling with poverty, etc. but countries which became independent with India are far ahead of us. there is a lot to be done and we have to move ahead together
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: Constitution speaks of inclusion. But people of this country have suffered exclusion, those people who did not have toilets in their homes and did not electricity in homes. those crores of peoples who did not have water to drink
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: if you can give up your comfort for the benefit of them that is the biggest respect to constitution. we have turn exclusion to inclusion.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: in this pandemic, 80 crore poeple have been identified for free food grains at the cost of 2000 crores. food grains will be given for free and it will be given till next March.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: When a common man joins the road to progress then his world completely changes. When hawkers etc all have bank credit realise the importance of nation building.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: when a strong law is made on triple talaq, sisters develop more belief on the system.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: when govt works for a small community they are praised a lot ....when a govt works for development of states then also they are praised, but but i am surprised that when the govt works for all, they are not given any importance or spoken about
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: when we speak of gender equality, female numbers are going up compared to men and even female death rate during child birth has decreased.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: Sardar Vallabhai Patel had dreamt of the dam on Narmada river and Pandit Nehru had laid the foundation stone . But it was caught in the web of environmental pollution concerns. Now Kutch has developed due to the water on the narmada river.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: environmental concerns are now being raised to stop the development of a nation. if we talk about accumulated emissions, developed countries had contributed to 15 times more absolute cumulative emission than us.
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: In India we see God even in plants and trees and also see motherland as a God ..this country is given lectures in environmental protection
@PMOIndia

PM Modi: sadly we also have such people in our country who stall the development of nation in the name of freedom of expression without understanding the aspirations of the nation. such people dont bear the brunt but those mothers bear it who have no electricity for her child

PM: It is this colonial mindset which is responsible to strangulate the dreams and aspirations of our young India. we have to destroy this colonial mindset and for this we have to rely on Indian constitution.

PM: Judiciary and executive were birthed from the Constitution. hence we are twins and even though we look different, we are from the same source. @PMOIndia

PM: When the country is gearing to leap ahead, the country will move ahead with the stake of everyone together.

PM: an important role is here is also of judiciary. in our discussion we come to know about separation of power. this concept has been very important. there is a need for collective resolve now.
@PMOIndia

PM: on the touchstone of separation of power we have to work with collective responsibility and chart the road ahead.

PM: Technology is the greatest strength of justice system now and this change will become a source of strength for the humanity. This will also uphold the human values. @PMOIndia

Justice DY Chandrachud: Its a unique honor to propose vote of thanks on the 72nd Constitution Day. While constitution may formally separate the institution we represent but unites us in the roots and foliage of democracy.

Justice DY Chandrachud: This event reflects our shared pride to show how we upheld the constitutional values. It shows how we were a platform for emancipation and participation.

DYC J: Supreme Court e committee has digitised 3000 crore judicial records. This will help justice is accesible to everyone in this country.

DYC J: As a judge of the SC and a disciple of the Constitution, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all. #ConstitutionDay2021 #SupremeCourt

DYC J: in a memory of silence we condole our members who could not survive the pandemic. But we as a democracy have survived on hope, a hope for a better tomorrow. #supremecourt #constitutionday

Event concludes.