Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur
Nagpur, Jun 28: Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Saturday underscored the unifying strength of the Indian Constitution, crediting it with holding the nation together through decades of challenges. Speaking at the inauguration of the country’s first Constitution Preamble Park at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Law School, Nagpur University, the CJI reflected on the Constitution’s enduring relevance and adaptability.
“Whenever India has faced a crisis, it has stood together as one,” said Justice Gavai. Responding to historical critiques of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's Constitution being overly centralised, the CJI quoted Ambedkar's own defence: that the Constitution is designed to face any situation — be it war or peace — and is neither entirely centric nor federal, but uniquely Indian in structure.
Pointing to India's stable constitutional journey in contrast to its neighbours, he remarked, “In the last 75 years, just look at what has happened around us — in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Despite everything, India has remained united and strong.”
The event was attended by senior leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and also marked CJI Gavai’s felicitation following his appointment to the top judicial post on May 14.
Justice Gavai also referenced the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Article 370, stating that the decision reaffirmed the principle that India must be governed by a single constitution — an idea rooted in Ambedkar’s vision. “The Court upheld that one Constitution must apply to the entire country,” he said.
Paying tribute to Dr Ambedkar, he highlighted the symbolic importance of unveiling the Preamble Park in Nagpur, the city where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, calling it a fitting location to honour his constitutional legacy.
Speaking a day earlier at a felicitation event by the Nagpur District Court Bar Association, the CJI addressed the role of the judiciary, cautioning against overreach. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between judicial activism and constitutional restraint, asserting that the judiciary must act only when laws infringe upon constitutional values.
“The judiciary should not overstep its boundaries. Activism must not become judicial terrorism or adventurism,” he warned, advocating for a respectful separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Describing the Constitution as a “remarkable document” that ensures social, economic, and political justice, the CJI credited Ambedkar’s visionary framework for shaping not only India’s democracy but also his own life and career.