JGU organised on February 5 the Fali. S. Nariman Memorial Lecture in which Hon'ble Mr. Justice Aravind Kumar, Judge, Supreme Court of India delivered a lecture on the theme '75 Years of Indian Constitution and the Supreme Court of India: The Role of Human Rights & Public Policy for Empowering Citizens'.
In the lecture, he said: "The Supreme Court of India enhances Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution. The judiciary wishes to secure socio-economic justice and rights through broader welfare policies and development strategies so that states can achieve the minimum core in every possible way. The court is duty-bound to ensure constitutional protection in favour of weaker sections of the society based on social economic criteria."
Recalling the contribution of the renowned late legal luminary, Mr. Fali S. Nariman, Justice Aravind Kumar said, "Fali Nariman was not just a legal expert but the conscience keeper of the legal fraternity with unparalleled brilliance and eloquence that could stay the hardest heart with a steadfast commitment to justice. He epitomised the ideals of our Constitution that envisions fairness, courage and unwavering faith in the individual and shaped landmark judgements. His legacy is marked by landmark contributions to human rights and justice. His commitment to human rights wasn't confined to the courtroom. As a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, while participating in the debate on the Right to Education, he remarked that a society that denies its children the light of education dims the future of its democracy. His writings and speeches often reflected his belief that constitutional morality should guide public policy."
Justice Aravind Kumar's lecture involved a wide-ranging discourse on rights, duties and the role of the Supreme Court in upholding the Constitution of India. "As we celebrate 75 years of the Indian Constitution and the establishment of the Supreme Court, we reflect on the transformative vision embedded in these institutions. Fali Nariman often said that the Constitution is not a mere document. It is the soul of our democracy. He believed in its promise to ensure dignity for all. At the heart of this journey lies the interplay of human rights and public policy. The true measure of a government lies in its ability to translate constitutional principles into public policy that uplifts every citizen. The framers of the Constitution showed insightful thinking which was essentially futuristic when the Right to Equality before the law was taken from the Directive Principles of state policy and put under fundamental rights it is imperative to discuss how the Supreme Court has enforced these human rights and has proactively enhanced the implementation of these rights and ensuring the effectiveness as well. There have been monumental leaps in widening the interpretation of certain provisions to include the basic tenets of Right to Life."
In his Welcome Address, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU, "We are celebrating the legacy of undoubtedly India's finest jurist, Mr. Fali S. Nariman. He remains India's finest lawyer, arbitrator and also a parliamentarian. Mr. Nariman wore many hats, but one thing that he did, is that he steadfastly adhered to the idea of speaking truth to power. He remained the moral compass of the legal profession, and indeed the law itself. We are also honoured that the memorial lecture is being delivered by the distinguished judge of the Supreme Court Hon'ble Mr. Justice Aravind Kumar."
Professor (Dr.) S.G. Sreejith Executive Dean, Jindal Global Law School reflected on the contributions of Mr. Fali S. Nariman and said that it was an honour to organise the annual lecture in his memory.