Nagpur: Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai on Saturday emphasised that Dr B. R. Ambedkar envisioned a single constitution for the country to ensure unity and never supported the idea of separate constitutions for individual states.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Constitution Preamble Park, the CJI said the Supreme Court had drawn from Dr Ambedkar’s vision of a united India under one Constitution when it upheld the Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Gavai was part of the five-judge Constitution bench, headed by then Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, which unanimously upheld the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 and the special status of the erstwhile state.
“When Article 370 was challenged, it came before us, and when the hearing was underway, I recalled Dr Babasaheb’s words that one constitution is suited for a country... If we want to keep the country united, we need only one Constitution,” he said, while addressing the gathering in Marathi.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370, revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcating it into two Union Territories.
Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai said Dr B. R. Ambedkar had been criticised in the past for framing a constitution that some believed offered too much federalism, raising concerns about the nation's unity during times of war.
However, he had responded, saying the Constitution would suit all the challenges and keep the nation united, the CJI said.
"See the situation in the neighbouring countries, be it Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Whenever our country faces challenges, it has remained united," Gavai said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Constitution Preamble Park, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said he was happy that CJI Gavai inaugurated the park and unveiled a statue of Dr Ambedkar.
Freedom, equality and brotherhood were Dr Ambedkar's valuable gift to the country in the form of the Constitution, he said.
Gadkari also highlighted the Constitution's clarity in defining the responsibilities and rights of the four pillars of democracy—executive, judiciary, legislature and media.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, lauding CJI Gavai’s leadership, said he was performing his duties ably as Chief Justice of India.
Highlighting the importance of the Constitution, Fadnavis said the government has decided that the Preamble of the Constitution should reach every student to mark the Amrit Mohotsav of the Constitution.
"If we accept the values of the Preamble, 90 per cent of the country's problems will be solved forever," he said.
(inputs from PTI)