New Lady Justice statue: Blindfold comes off, holds Indian Constitution

The blindfold has come off a new Lady of Justice statue, and now holds a copy of the Indian Constitution in one of its hands instead of the sword. The new statue has been unveiled at the judges’ library of the Supreme Court, according to reports.

The new statue sheds the colonial imprint and the change has been effected by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, reports said.

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The removal of the blindfold means that the law in India is not blind and does not merely symbolise punishment.

According to an NDTV report, citing top sources associated with the Chief Justice's office, Justice Chandrachud believes that India should move forward from the British legacy and that the law is never blind, it sees everyone equally.

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“Therefore, the Chief Justice said that the form of the Lady of Justice should be changed. He said the statue should have the Constitution in one hand and not a sword, so that a message goes out to the country that she dispenses justice according to the Constitution. The sword is a symbol of violence but courts deliver justice according to constitutional laws,” a source said, as per the report.