INTRODUCTION

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai delivered a lecture on ‘The Living Document: 75 Years of the Constitution of India and the Enduring Relevance of Dr Ambedkar’ on his visit to Gray’s Inn in London. In his speech, he highlighted the powerful impact of the constitutional values of India, led by Dr. BR Ambedkar’s vision. 

This blog delves into the details of CJI Gavai’s tribute to Dr. Ambedkar, the Significance of Gray’s Inn in London, Dr. Ambedkar’s vision and role in the making of the constitution, and the constitutional safeguards for backward classes in India. 

CJI GAVAI’S TRIBUTE TO DR. BR AMBEDKAR

In his speech delivered at Gray’s Inn in London, CJI Gavai mentioned that he takes pride in India’s journey over the past 75 years. CJI Gavai is the second Dalit Chief Justice of India after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who served as CJI from January 14, 2007 to May 12, 2010. CJI BR Gavai is the 52^nd Chief Justice of India and has been serving in the office since May 14, 2025. 

In his address in London, the CJI said, “And when the Constitution of India has completed 75 years, it is a matter of great coincidence that India has a President who is a woman and belongs to tribal class. We have a Prime Minister who comes from backward classes and who takes pride in saying it is only because of the Indian Constitution that he could adorn the position of Prime Minister.” 

He also spoke about the legacy of Dr. BR Ambedkar. He spoke about Dr Ambedkar’s impact on the legal field and on the fabric of India’s democracy. He mentioned that Dr Ambedkar put significant efforts to “ensure that India’s Constitution enshrines equality, liberty, justice and fraternity for all resonate deeply”. He credited his success in life to BR Ambedkar’s vision, as he too comes from a marginalised section of society. 

He also said, “Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of a just and inclusive society, as enshrined in our Constitution, opened the doors for individuals from marginalised communities to overcome the social and economic barriers that once kept them away from entering the mainstream of life.” 

SIGNIFICANCE OF GRAY’S INN

CJI Gavai delivered this important speech in The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, which is based in London. It is one of the four Inns of Court, which are professional associations for barristers and judges. A person has to belong to one of these to practice as a barrister in England and Wales. 

Gray’s Inn recently dedicated a wing in the name of Dr. BR Ambedkar. Gray’s Inn is significantly connected to the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar, as called to the Inn, to practice as a Barrister in England over a 100 years ago. 

CJI BR Gavai, in this context, said, “Standing here today, I am reminded of the incredible legacy Dr. Ambedkar left behind, not only in the legal field but in the very fabric of Indian democracy. His efforts to ensure that India’s Constitution enshrines equality, liberty, justice and fraternity for all resonate deeply, and being in this space today, where it all began for him, brings a sense of connection to his enduring impact on our legal system.” 

Dr. BR AMBEDKAR’S VISION AND ITS ROLE IN THE CONSTITUTION

Dr. BR Ambedkar has been credited as the architect of the Indian Constitution. He was a Dalit and faced oppression, which made him realise that true equality is required for the nation to progress. He envisioned a framework that would help undo centuries of injustice done to marginalised communities. It was this vision that CJI BR Gavai gave a tribute to in his speech at Gray’s Inn. 

Dr. Ambedkar crafted such a constitution that would uplift those sections of society that did not have equal access to opportunities. He wished to introduce safeguards for backward classes in the form of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). These castes had experienced societal exclusion historically. 

By including these safeguards, he wanted to create an even playing field for all individuals. CJI BR Gavai called himself a “living example” of Dr. Ambedkar’s dream. He mentioned that it is the realisation of that dream that marginalised people are reaching higher offices. 

CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS FOR BACKWARD CLASSES

The constitution, fulfilling Dr. Ambedkar’s vision, has provisions for the upliftment of backward classes. 

Protective measures

The first ones are protective measures in the form of the right to equality (Articles 14 to 18). Article 14 of the Constitution says, “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.” 

Article 15 goes a step further and puts a prohibition on discrimination on the grounds of caste (as well as on religion, race, sex, or place of birth). It says, “the State shall not discriminate against any citizen grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.” 

Article 15(2) says, “No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition.”

Article 17 abolishes untouchability. Historically, the backward classes have been considered “untouchables” and Article 17 puts a prohibition on the same. The text of the article reads, “‘Untouchability’ is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of “Untouchability’’ shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.” 

Article 23 is another protective measure that puts a prohibition on forced labour. Historically, lower castes have often been exploited because of forced labour or by being forced into a certain profession. The test of the article states, “(1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.” 

Affirmative measures (through reservation policies) 

Article 16 of the Constitution provides for equality of opportunity for all people in matters of public employment. In addition, Article 16(4) gives the state the ability to make reservations in public employment. It states, “Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.” Article 16(4A) was inserted in the constitution by the 77^th Amendment Act in 1995. It provides for reservations in promotions for the marginalised and unrepresented groups. It states, “Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for reservation in matters of promotion, with consequential seniority, to any class or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in the services under the State.” 

Further, Articles 243D and 243T have provisions on reservations for SCs and STs in Panchayati Raj institutions as well as in Municipalities. Further, these articles provide for a 1/3^rd reservation of women belonging to SCs or STs. 

Article 330 of the Constitution provides for reservation in the Legislative Bodies of states for SCs and ST and Article 332 provides for reservation in the Lok Sabha. 

Development measures

Article 38 is a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) and directs the state to promote welfare of the people and to minimise inequalities in income, status and opportunities. This article makes it the responsibility of the state to bring equality in society. 

Article 46, also a part of DPSPs, puts a duty on the state to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and other weaker sections. The article reads, “The State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.” 

Other safeguards

Article 341 gives parliament the power to amend the list of which castes shall comprise SC and gives the President the power to specify which castes or tribes shall be included in the SCs. Article 342 gives similar power in the context of STs. In order to oversee the safeguarding of the interests of Scheduled Castes and to review their development, Article 338 establishes a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Article 338A does the same for Scheduled Tribes. By the 102^nd Amendment of 2018, a similar commission for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was given constitutional status under Article 338B. 

These safeguards have led to the representation of backward classes in education, public employment, and in politics. 

CONCLUSION

CJI Gavai’s remarks restate the importance of Dr. BR Ambedkar’s legacy in the form of the Constitution of India. The constitution of India, with the ideals of Dr. Ambedkar, provides for many safeguards for backward and marginalised groups, which have significantly led to rise of these classes, as mentioned by the CJI. 

As the CJI Gavai mentioned, in order to fully realise Dr. Ambedkar’s dreams, all branches of the government have to work together so that justice can be ensured to each and every citizen of the nation. 

AUTHOR: SARGUN SINGH

REFERENCES

Statutes referred to: 

The Constitution of India, Articles 15, 16, 17, 23, 38, 46, 243D, 243T, 330, 332, 341, 342, 338. 

Websites referred:

1. Pallavi Saluja, CJI BR Gavai honours Dr BR Ambedkar at Gray’s Inn: Story in Pictures, Bar and Bench, June 7, 2025. (Available at: https://www.barandbench.com/news/cji-br-gavai-honours-dr-br-ambedkar-at-grays-inn-story-in-pictures) 
2. Livelaw News Network, I Take Pride In Saying India Has A Chief Justice Who Comes From Marginalised Section: CJI BR Gavai, Live Law, June 7, 2025. (Available at: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/chief-justice-of-india-br-gavai-br-ambedkar-matter-pride-marginalised-person-cji-294420) 
3. Aditi Khanna, Marginalised communities holding some of the highest constitutional offices in India: CJI, The Print, June 6, 2025. (Available at: https://theprint.in/world/marginalised-communities-holding-some-of-highest-constitutional-offices-in-india-cji/2649776/) 
4. Apoorva, ‘Constitution of India is not just a legal text, but a living document’, CJI BR Gavai speaks on 75 Years of the Constitution, and the Enduring Relevance of Dr. Ambedkar, SCC Times, June 7, 2025. (Available at: https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2025/06/07/cji-br-gavai-lecture-75-years-constitution-ambedkar/) 
5. Aishwarya Iyer, Matter of great coincidence that India has a President, PM and Chief Justice from marginalized section: CJI Gavai, Law Beat, June 7, 2025. (Available at: https://lawbeat.in/amp/top-stories/matter-of-great-coincidence-that-indias-president-pm-and-chief-justice-from-marginalized-section-cji-gavai-1402598) 
6. Jadumani Mahanand, The importance of Ambedkar’s constitutionalism, Hindustan Times, June 5, 2025. (Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-importance-of-ambedkar-s-constitutionalism-101749123267149.html) 
7. Namita Bajpai, India’s stability, unity, strength rooted in Constitution,’ says CJI; calls it duty to ensure justice reaches last citizen, The New Indian Express, May 31, 2025. (Available at: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/31/indias-stability-unity-strength-rooted-in-constitution-says-cji-calls-it-duty-to-ensure-justice-reaches-last-citizen
8. Purnima Shah, Neither Judiciary nor Executive but Constitution is supreme: CJI, The Hindu, May 18, 2025. (Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/constitution-of-india-supreme-its-pillars-must-work-together-cji-gavai/article69590293.ece) 
9. Aneesha Mathur, India’s social progress happened due to Ambedkar’s constitution: Justice BR Gavai, India Today, April 15, 2025. (Available on: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/justice-br-gavai-says-indias-social-progress-happened-due-to-ambedkars-constitution-2709094-2025-04-15) 
10. Gray’s Inn, https://www.graysinn.org.uk/