Bar Association Criticizes Supreme Court’s New ‘Lady Justice’ Statue and Changes

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has expressed strong opposition to recent changes made by the Supreme Court, including the redesign of its emblem and the new statue of ‘Lady Justice,’ which were implemented without consulting its members.

The new statue of Lady Justice, prominently displayed at the Supreme Court, has notably shed its blindfold. Instead of holding a sword, it now carries the Constitution of India, symbolizing that the law in India is neither blind nor punitive. Traditionally, Lady Justice has been depicted with a blindfold, but this redesign aims to convey that the law is aware and just.

In a resolution, the SCBA stated, “The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association observes that significant changes have been made unilaterally by the Supreme Court, such as alterations to its emblem and the Lady Justice statue, without any consultation with the Bar. We are equal stakeholders in the administration of justice, yet these changes were never communicated to us. We remain entirely in the dark regarding the reasoning behind these modifications.”

Previously, the statue’s scales symbolized balance and fairness, while the sword represented the power of the law. The new statue is viewed as an effort to move away from colonial legacies and emphasize that the law is not blind in contemporary India.

Additionally, the SCBA raised concerns about plans to establish a museum in the former judges’ library. The association had previously requested a café-cum-lounge to better serve its members, as the current cafeteria is inadequate. The resolution states, “We had asked for a Library and Café-cum-Lounge for our members, but now a museum has seemingly been proposed in the old Judges’ Library. Despite our objections to this museum, work has commenced.”

The SCBA is calling for greater consultation and consideration of its members’ needs in future developments.