Introduction
The inauguration of the new statute of lady justice in India by Hon’ble Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud marks a new beginning in India’s judicial system. The new statute aims to transform India’s legal system from colonial, oppressive, authoritative, blindfolded, to openness, liberal, rights-oriented, and which does justice with both eyes open. The purpose was to present a more modern, value-based, and contemporary image of the legal system. Recently, the government has also changed the criminal laws into a set of three new criminal laws with the purpose of removing the colonial and oppressive laws with more recent and rights-based laws that aim to cater to the needs of people.
The present article aims to present before the readers the significance of the statute of lady justice, why the new statute of lady justice enacted, the history of it, and a comparison of both the statutes and why these changes have been made.
Changes that have been made in the new statute of Lady Justice
- Removal of blindfolds: earlier the statute of Lady Justice was covered with blindfolds to reflect impartiality in doing justice, which now have been removed. It now signifies that law is not blind and justice is done with open eyes.
- Eyes are open; earlier the statute had closed eyes so as to symbolize that justice only knows law. It now has been changed with open eyes, symbolizing justice is done with open eyes.
- Having the Constitution book in left hand: Earlier, the lady justice had a sword in her hand, which indicated authoritarianism, which now has been replaced with the Constitution book, indicating the faith and authority towards the Constitution, the law of the land.
- Change in attire: Earlier, the Lady Justice was in traditional western clothes, which have now changed to Indian sarees, which reflect our cultural identity.
- Holding scales in hand: earlier the lady was holding scales in her hand, which now has remained unchanged. It highlights how the Court of Law pronounces judgments or does justice on the basis of balancing the two sides on the basis of facts and circumstances and through a careful analysis of the law of the land.
Therefore, analyzing the changes, it may be stated that the new lady justice aims to present a legal system that is more vigilant, inclusive, and promotes the constitutional values and principles.
History of Lady Justice
The lady justice was inspired by the Roman idea of justice, according to which justice was given a feminine figure holding a sword in one hand, signifying the wrongdoer would be punished, and was blindfolded, which means justice never looks at the caste, creed, religion, or background of the offender. Justice only weighs the right and wrong on the basis of prevalent laws of the nation. Therefore, Lady Justice holds the scale on one hand to signify that, on an equal basis, by examining all the relevant matter at hand, justice is done.
This Roman idea of justice was brought into India by the British. They followed this idea of justice when they ruled India. Since India’s legal system is largely inspired by the British Legal System, this system prevailed in India even after Independence until October 16, 2024.
The statute has been established at the Supreme Court and also at the various high courts, signifying the idea of justice. However, now the present lady justice statute has been replaced with the new one with the above-mentioned changes.
An analysis of the changes
The changes definitely have been done for the better. The blindfolded lady justice was often criticized. It was asserted that justice must not be done with closed eyes but with open eyes. Also, the sword was indicative of authoritativeness, oppression, repression, subjugation, enslavement, persecution, exploitation, tyranny, and dominance. It reflected how Indian laws are punishment-oriented. India has already started following the theory of rehabilitative justice of punishment. According to which the purpose of punishment is to rehabilitate and reintegrate the offender. Therefore, the replacement of the sword is a positive change.
Secondly, the replacement of the sword with the Constitution is again a commendable change. It reflects how justice is based upon the Constitution’s morals and tenets and a step towards a form of justice that is just, fair, equal, legitimate, impartial, neutral, and righteousness. It has the potential to restore the faith of people in the Indian judicial system.
Indian attire of Lady Justice signifies the cultural aspects of justice. It makes justice more inclusive and within the reach of every citizen. It also emphasizes some unique tenets or principles of justice that India abides by, for example, criminal and civil jurisprudence principles and constitutional principles.
Conclusion
The lady justice is the epitome of justice and is looked upon as the perfect example of justice by all the judges, advocates, and even the common man. Therefore, the current changes definitely have the huge potential to change the principles of justice in a better way.
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