‘Doing nothing is safer but…’: CJI DY Chandrachud’s words of wisdom to young lawyers

NAGPUR, FEB. 12 : Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachund on Saturday motivated the youth of the country and said choosing the more difficult option and realigning law and society with justice is more courageous, rather than sitting and accepting the status quo. The Chief Justice was addressing the convocation ceremony of Maharashtra National Law University at Nagpur.

“I must warn you that saying or not doing nothing is probably the safer or less risky option. But choosing the more difficult option which is to make a difference, which is to attempt to realign law and society with justice is more courageous,” ANI quoted Chandrachund as saying.

Addressing the recent demands made to change terms in ‘The Preamble’ to the Constitution, which Indians consider to be the soul of our Constitution, CJI Chandrachund said that it marks the transition of democracy.

“The Preamble is a short but weighty part of the Constitution. It states that ‘We, the people of India give to ourselves this Constitution’. It marks the transition of the people of India from the status of ‘subjects’ to the status of ‘citizens,” added CJI.

Addressing young lawyers, CJI Chandrachund encouraged them to get motivated and driven in life by the values of the Indian Constitution.

The Constitution has made tremendous strides towards a more just and democratic society, but much work remains to be accomplished before we can rest. The deep inequality which fractured our society, at the time of Independence, persists even today. The best and surest way to make this inequality a distant dream of the past is to inculcate the spirit of constitutionalism in our society,” Bar and Bench quoted CJI as advising students.

-TN