Sword to Constitution: A redesign 41 yrs ago in Raj

Jaipur: Last week, the Supreme Court installed a redesigned statue of the 'Goddess of Justice' and had it unveiled by Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud. Key changes involved the removal of the blindfold and the replacement of a sword in the Goddess's hand with a copy of the Constitution. The design was hailed as the beginning of a new era of justice, with Justice Chandrachud asserting that "the law is not blind; it sees everyone equally."Remarkably, Jaipur implemented a similar change 41 years ago, on Apr 26, 1983, at its District and Sessions Court. The sword made way for the Constitution, but the blindfold was retained, a move piloted by then judicial magistrate Padam Kumar Jain, posted at the court and part of the decision-making body mandated with the statue's installation.Back then, the move to replace the sword with a copy of the Constitution sparked a debate. Some argued that according to Greek mythology, the Goddess of Justice must hold a sword. "I had reasoned that the Goddess of Justice not only punishes but also acquits people," Jain told TOI. Another debate was over what book the Goddess must hold, since courts in India follow different codes for civil and criminal matters. "Ultimately, it was decided the Goddess of Justice should hold a book representing the Indian Constitution, as courts are established on this fundamental document," Jain, current president of the welfare society of former judges, said.Jain's inspiration for the redesign came while working on his PhD. He encountered the Roman mythological figure "Justitia", holding a balance in one hand, a sword in the other, and wearing a blindfold. He believed it was inappropriate for the Goddess of Justice to hold a sword, given that judges and magistrates not only punish, but also acquit people.When the statue was installed in Jaipur, questions were raised about her wearing a blindfold and holding a balance. Jain said, "I said the blindfold represents impartiality, ensuring that justice is delivered without bias or prejudice, regardless of a person's wealth, power, or social status. The balance symbolises the weighing of evidence, ensuring that both sides are considered before deciding."Jain also said the apex court's decision to take this a step forward, and to remove the blindfold from the eyes of the Goddess is the right decision. Now, the confusion has been cleared and people understand that the Goddess of Justice is not blind.
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