Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramakrishna Gawai said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) that the judiciary has always given importance to human dignity as the soul of the Constitution and has recognized it as a fundamental right.
The Chief Justice said in the eleventh Dr. LM Singhvi Smriti Lecture here that human dignity is a broader principle, which outlines the basic spirit and philosophy of the Constitution and shapes the basic values- freedom, equality, fraternity and justice expressed in the preface. Justice Gawai was speaking on the topic ‘Spirit of Human Garima Constitution: Judicial contemplation in the 21st century’.
Addressing a gathering of judges, lawyers, academics and MPs of the Supreme Court and High Court in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Justice Gawai said, ‘I would say that the judiciary has emphasized human dignity as the soul of the Constitution. This has considered human dignity as a comprehensive principle, which underlines the basic spirit and philosophy of the Constitution, which shapes the basic values- freedom, equality, fraternity and justice expressed in the preface. ‘
He said, ‘In various decisions, the Supreme Court has continuously stated that human dignity is a fundamental right and a standard approach, through which all fundamental rights should be understood.’ He said that in practice it means that dignity acts as a guiding principle, which combines rights, allowing the judiciary to develop a relevant and overall structure for constitutional justice.
Appreciating the contribution of Dr. LM Singhvi, he said, “It has not only been used to protect the honorable existence of citizens, but also as a constitutional tool to expand, interpret and harmonize rights, ensuring that the security provided by the Constitution is meaningful and comprehensive.”
CJI Gavai thanked the co-maintenance OP Jindal University and the late Dr. LM Singhvi’s son Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi for giving an opportunity to give a memory lecture, saying that overall, the Supreme Court has been consistent in developing human dignity jurisprudence.