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‘Once Among the Untouchables, Now Chief Justice’: Justice Gavai Credits Constitution in Oxford Speech

Oxford Gavai
Photo: @harishvnair1/X

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the second Dalit and first Buddhist to hold the highest judicial office in India, delivered a powerful lecture at the Oxford Union in the UK on the theme “From Representation to Realization: Embodying the Constitution’s Promise.”

He began by recalling the historical oppression of millions of Indians once called “untouchables” and declared, “Here we are today—where a person belonging to those very people is speaking openly, as the holder of the highest office in the judiciary of the country.”

CJI Gavai highlighted how India’s Constitution transformed society by affirming that all citizens belong and have the right to speak for themselves. “The Constitution is not merely a legal charter or political framework,” he said, “it is a feeling, a lifeline, a quiet revolution etched in ink.”

He described the Constitution as a social document that confronts “the brutal truths of caste, poverty, exclusion, and injustice” and dares “to intervene, to rewrite the script, to recalibrate power, and to restore dignity.” It carries the “heartbeat of those who were never meant to be heard” and pushes the State “not only to protect rights but to actively uplift, to affirm, to repair.”

Referencing Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s vision, CJI Gavai said that democracy must be rooted in social justice. He said Ambedkar viewed political representation as vital to dismantling caste hierarchies and redistributing social dignity, not just institutional power.

CJI Gavai traced the evolution of affirmative action in India—from legislative quotas to landmark Supreme Court judgments like the Mandal reservation verdict—and affirmed that such measures realize the spirit of equality rather than contradict it. He cited recent judicial decisions advancing transgender rights, women’s permanent commissions in the armed forces, and accommodations for persons with disabilities.

The Chief Justice also noted the 2023 constitutional amendment granting political reservations for women and the Supreme Court’s endorsement of subclassification within Scheduled Castes to ensure fairness within marginalized groups.

“The true beauty of Indian democracy lies in this: even as we commemorate 75 years of the Constitution, we continue to reflect, renew, and reimagine how to deepen and expand the meaning of representation,” he said.

The event included introductory remarks by Advocate Tanvi Dubey, a moderated session by Ms. Pawlin, and an audience Q&A covering issues such as technology, women’s inclusivity, and equal representation.

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