'Law is not blind': Lady Justice in Supreme Court library now holds a Constitution with open eyes
Zinnia Balli
New Delhi, October 18, 2024: In a move aimed at eliminating colonial influences and conventional characteristics, a new Lady of Justice statue at the Supreme Court has had its blindfold removed, and the sword in one of its hands has been substituted with the Constitution.
This change conveys the message that the law in this country is not blind and does not merely represent punishment.
The blindfold was intended to symbolize impartiality in the legal system, suggesting that courts are unable to perceive the wealth, influence, or other indicators of status of individuals who come before them, while the sword represents the authority and capacity to address injustice.
The newly unveiled statue in the judges' library at the Supreme Court, commissioned by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, features open eyes and substitutes the sword with the Constitution in its left hand.
This change is perceived as a deliberate effort to move away from colonial influences, akin to the replacement of colonial-era criminal laws, such as the Indian Penal Code, with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.