Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Wednesday underlined that human dignity forms the soul of the Indian Constitution. He made these remarks while delivering the Dr LM Singhvi Memorial Lecture at Jindal Global University on the theme of judicial thinking in the 21st century.
Welcoming a large number of Members of Parliament present, many of them practising lawyers, the CJI said his own position was possible only due to the vision of Dr Ambedkar and the guiding spirit of the Constitution.
He stressed that the framers designed the Constitution to respond to historical humiliations, with dignity as its central concern.
Human Dignity as Constitutional Value
The CJI said the text of the Constitution establishes dignity alongside freedom, equality, fraternity, and justice. When dignity is recognised and protected, it builds belonging, respect, and solidarity, which are vital for national unity.
He said the Constitution envisages a society where every person, regardless of caste, class, or background, can live a life of dignity.
He highlighted Dr Ambedkar’s view that fraternity is another name for democracy, binding individuals in a shared sense of humanity.
While the word ‘dignity’ does not explicitly appear in Part III of the Constitution, courts have recognised it as a foundational principle of Fundamental Rights.
Provisions under Articles 14, 15, 16, 19, and 21 collectively affirm that human dignity remains integral to liberty, equality, and justice.
Judicial Recognition of Dignity in Practice
The CJI said that judicial recognition of dignity gained momentum in the late 1970s, especially against reports of the inhuman treatment of prisoners.
Courts ruled that loss of liberty does not mean loss of humanity. Under Article 21, the right to life was interpreted as the right to live with dignity, ensuring personal autonomy, bodily integrity, and protection against degrading treatment.
He cited the Constitution Bench judgment in Sunil Batra vs Delhi Administration, where Justice Krishna Iyer stressed that prisoners are persons in the eyes of the law, not animals.
The judgment held that prison authorities must respect constitutional obligations, and any denial of fundamental rights is an institutional atrocity.
The judiciary, he said, must hold accountable those who offend the dignity of human beings, even within prisons.
The lecture concluded with the CJI’s assertion that human dignity continues to guide constitutional interpretation and remains a cornerstone of India’s democratic order.
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