Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday hailed the indispensable role of the Bar in safeguarding the rule of law and upholding the sanctity of the Constitution, describing lawyers as the “torchbearers” who guide the judiciary in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.
Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the CJI said that while the courts are seen as sentinels of the Constitution, the Bar ensures that justice reaches every corner of society.
“When we celebrate the moment when the people of India gave unto themselves the Constitution, I must emphasise that the Bar occupies an indispensable place in fortifying the rule of law and upholding the sanctity of our Constitution. If the courts are the sentinels, then the Bar are the torchbearers who illuminate our path,” Justice Kant said.
He noted that the legal fraternity plays a crucial role in offering legal aid to the vulnerable and marginalised, and in ensuring that constitutional ideals such as justice, liberty, and equality are not mere words but lived realities. “Your perspectives matter profoundly. The seriousness with which you engage in your craft directly influences the transformation of our constitutional future,” he added.
The CJI urged lawyers to take purposeful steps to spread awareness about constitutional values and align their practice with the Directive Principles of State Policy, calling it essential for a just and inclusive democracy.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who also addressed the gathering, said the Constitution’s beauty lies in its balance of power among the executive, legislature, and judiciary. “No organ is supreme — only the Constitution is sovereign,” he said, adding that the judiciary has always intervened when other institutions strayed from constitutional morality.
SCBA president Vikas Singh stressed the need to strengthen law-making, justice delivery, and access to justice, while highlighting issues such as black money in elections and criminal elements in politics. He also called for urgent improvements in lower court infrastructure and judicial training to ensure that justice remains accessible to all citizens.
Since 2015, November 26 has been celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. The day, earlier known as Law Day, honours India’s democratic framework and the vision of its founding fathers.
