Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Chandrachud delivered a thought-provoking address on Sunday, underscoring the paramount importance of integrity within the legal profession. He emphasized that the future of this esteemed vocation hinges on maintaining unwavering integrity, likening it to the very core of the profession itself.
CJI Chandrachud articulated that the erosion of integrity doesn’t occur in one catastrophic event but rather through a series of small, incremental concessions and compromises made by both lawyers and judges. He conveyed this message while speaking at an event themed ‘Enhancing Collaboration between Advocates & Judges: Towards Strengthening the Legal System.’
“In our profession, our continued existence or our potential downfall is intrinsically linked to our integrity. This virtue is not eroded by a single tempest but by the accumulation of countless minor concessions and compromises made by lawyers and judges,” he poignantly stated.
He went on to emphasize that individuals in the legal profession must grapple with their conscience, as it incessantly poses questions and keeps them awake at night. Integrity, he asserted, serves as the bedrock of the legal profession. With unwavering integrity, the profession can thrive; without it, self-destruction looms.
CJI Chandrachud articulated the symbiotic relationship between lawyers and judges, highlighting that lawyers receive respect when they accord it to judges, and vice versa. This mutual respect crystallizes when there is a realization that both parties are integral components of the same mechanism that administers justice.
In his discourse, he addressed gender parity within the judiciary, remarking that gender equality is not solely a women’s issue but equally pertains to men. He recognized the challenge before the Indian legal profession to establish an environment of equal opportunity.
CJI Chandrachud elucidated, “I firmly believe that a significant challenge before the Indian legal profession is to create an equal opportunity profession. The composition of the legal profession today will define it in 30 or 40 years. When questioned about the scarcity of women judges, I assert that we should not solely scrutinize the present collegiums, for they must select from the talent pool available at the bar. To comprehend the status of our society today, we must reflect on the circumstances 20-25 years ago. The judges currently ascending to the higher judiciary represent the members of the bar from that bygone era.”
As key stakeholders in the legal realm, judges and lawyers must collectively ensure that women receive equitable representation within the legal system, he affirmed.
The Chief Justice’s lecture, hosted by the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court and the Advocate Association of Bombay High Court, took place at Mahatma Gandhi Mission University.
Source PTI
