Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who is retiring next month, said his mind is filled with fears and anxieties about the future and the past, and pondering whether he has achieved everything he set out to do and how history will judge him.
He said the answers to most questions were beyond his control and that he might never find the answers to some of them.
The CJI was speaking at the third convocation ceremony of the Jigme Singye Wangchuk (JSW) Law School of Bhutan on Tuesday evening.
Dean of JSW Law School, Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck of Bhutan, Chief Justice of Bhutan Lyonpo Chogyal Dago Rigdzin and other dignitaries attended the event.
“Please forgive me for being a little vulnerable. After serving our country for two years, I will step down as the Chief Justice of India in November this year. As my tenure comes to an end, my mind is filled with fears and fears about the future and the past. Anxious. I find myself thinking about questions like: Did I achieve the goals I set out to achieve? How will history judge my tenure? What would I have done differently? What legacy will I leave for future generations of judges and legal professionals? ?” he said.
The CJI expressed a sense of achievement while looking back on his two-year tenure as head of the judiciary of India. He said he takes comfort in the fact that he always tried his best no matter the outcome.
He will take office as the Chief Justice of India on November 9, 2022, and will step down on November 10.
“The answers to most questions are beyond my control, and perhaps I will never find the answers to some of them. However, I do know that for the past two years, I have woken up every morning with a commitment to give my best It’s at this point that I seek comfort in getting the job done and then falling asleep with the satisfaction of having served my country with utmost devotion. .You start to value the process and the journey to achieve these results,” the CJI said in his convocation address.
The CJI urged viewers to “recognize and respect traditional values” that are the foundation of societies such as India and Bhutan.
“Countries like Bhutan and India often find themselves at a crossroads, subject to different influences, particularly from the West, yet countries like ours in unique historical, social and cultural contexts must constantly challenge assumptions that: These values and principles are universal or always contain the right answers,” he said.
The CJI added: “Traditional Western definitions of ‘human rights’ tend to prioritize individuals over communities and, while well intentioned, fail to take into account the diverse perspectives and cultural differences that shape our understanding of justice.”
“India and Bhutan, for example, are both communities that rely on traditional communal dispute resolution and governance mechanisms. Such mechanisms cannot be shunned as traditional and outdated. Rather, they must be complemented by modern constitutional ideas. In India, our constitution itself There are provisions for panchayats and councilors to institutionalize these processes and infuse them with modern political thinking and procedures,” he said.
“There is often a misconception that the traditional values of our communities are antithetical to modern democratic ideals such as freedom, equality and dissent,” the CJI said.
He further emphasized that as we participate in the forces of cultural homogenization and globalization, we must “prioritize the preservation of our unique cultural identity.”
“This requires a thoughtful and selective approach to adopting global norms, ensuring that they complement and enhance our existing values rather than replace them. By doing so, we can cultivate a cultural landscape that seamlessly blends tradition and modernity , enabling us to forge our own path of progress and development,” CJI Chandrachud said on the occasion.
He stressed the importance Bhutan attaches to environmental protection, noting that the country’s constitution stipulates the principles of environmental management as a fundamental obligation.
“It declares that every citizen is a trustee of the Kingdom’s natural resources and environment for the benefit of present and future generations and declares that it is the fundamental duty of every citizen to contribute to the protection, preservation and prevention of all forms of ecological degradation,” the CJI said.
CJI addresses young graduates at convocation, urging them to use law as a tool for positive change, going beyond the narrow confines of litigation
“Your legal education is designed to achieve two interrelated goals: to provide sophisticated legal training and to develop ethical lawyers who use law as a tool for social change. Traditionally, law has been seen as synonymous with disputes and litigation, but this This narrow view is wrong. In fact, law has enormous potential as a tool for social change—think of those iconic struggles for justice—the fight against segregation, the civil rights movement, or the ongoing pursuit of gender equality—that were founded by those who refused to accept it. The passion for the status quo is driven by individuals,” he said.
The Chief Justice also expressed his appreciation for the upcoming LLM program in Climate Change and Environmental Law at JSW Law School, calling it an exciting prospect.
“What better place to study climate change and environmental law than in a carbon-negative country that has practiced the values of sustainability and environmentalism since its inception?” commented the CJI.
He said India faces an unprecedented climate crisis and the dangers of uncontrolled economic growth and there is an urgent need for environmentally conscious lawyers trained in climate change law. (Arnie)