Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai has said that he and his predecessors have made several efforts to foster inclusive and collective decision-making at the Supreme Court.
Speaking during a felicitation event on Saturday, the CJI said that there was a growing belief that the Apex Court was a Chief Justice court and not a court of all judges.
CJI Gavai said he, along with former CJIs Justice UU Lalit and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, have made several attempts to dispel that notion.
Immediately after assuming the office of the CJI, Justice Lalit conducted a full court meeting on the very next day, revealed Justice Gavai, adding that he did the same. The CJI said that he took decisions only after taking into consideration the views of everyone.
Efforts have been made to foster inclusive and collective decision-making at the top court of the country, he added.
Speaking about judicial intervention, he said he always felt that judicial activism was necessary. Whenever the executive or the legislature failed, the judiciary had to step in, to act as custodian of the rights of the citizens, observed the CJI.
However, it should never turn into judicial adventurism or judicial terrorism. All three wings should work within the spheres allotted to them, he added.
The event was organised by the High Court Bar Association of Nagpur, CJI Gavai’s home bar.
The CJI Gavai recalled his early years in the profession and said he became a lawyer following the decision of his father.
The CJI said that though they had
a humble background, this value of inclusiveness and the hard work out in by his mother shaped his future life.
He further spoke about his practice at the PIL Bench, especially his role in making the Nagpur-Jabalpur Highway safer.
The Nagpur Jabalpur Highway, which was languishing for years together and had witnessed more than 100 deaths due to the accidents, was completed. For the first time, the model of sustainable development was adopted during the construction of the Highway.
The CJI Gavai said that while giving the nod for the highway, he ensured that the ecology and interest of the wildlife was maintained by providing long subways. This proved beneficial for the animals travelling from one part of the jungle to another.