The Lady Justice Statue: New vs Old, Check Out the Key Differences Here!

The new statue of Lady Justice recently unveiled by India’s Supreme Court marks a significant departure from traditional representations.

Main differences

Here are the main differences between the old and new statues:

feature

old statue

new statue

blindfolded

Existence, symbolizing justice

Removed, showing “the law is not blind”

Eye

Closed, reinforcing the symbolic meaning of the blindfold

Openness, suggesting awareness and understanding

Objects held in left hand

The sword represents punishment and authority

Constitution, symbolizing justice based on constitutional values

clothing

traditional western robe

Indian sari embodies cultural identity

The symbolic meaning of musical scales

Represents balance and fairness

Unchanged, still symbolizing justice

symbolic change

  1. Blindfold Removal: This ancient blindfolded statue represented that justice should not be blind to passion or influence from external sources such as wealth or status, but it has been removed – the current view is that justice knows everything and sees everything in its position .
  2. Constitution and Sword: The sword in the old statue symbolizes the power of law enforcement and punishment. The new statue holding the Constitution focuses on justice with a constitutional basis and is relevant to India’s changing legal structure.
  3. Dress code: This is a shift from the western gown dress code trend to wearing an Indian saree – an aspect that shows a larger shift in Indian identity in the judiciary.
  4. Open your eyes: Ancient statue with eyes open. This illustrates a proactive justice that is aware of social issues but strives for fairness rather than equality.

The changes were initiated under the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud to modernize the judiciary and move away from the colonial legacy. The Open Eyes statue of the Lady Justice of the Supreme Court of India symbolizes a transformative view on the role of justice in society, reflecting modern values ​​and principles.

The meaning of opening your eyes

  • Awareness and Engagement: Opening your eyes symbolizes understanding the complexity and diversity of society. The image will then provide contrast as it is in a way a symbol of transcendent justice.
  • Constitutional Focus: The statue holds the Constitution in its hands rather than a sword, much like showing that justice is deeply rooted in constitutional values ​​rather than punishment. Changing this approach demonstrated a commitment to upholding rights and fairness in the eyes of the Constitution and opposed symbols of colonial authority and violence.
  • Inclusion and equity: Design has a more inclusive aspect to justice, meaning it should incorporate diverse perspectives and experiences rather than lumping everyone into the same person in the eyes of the law. This is in line with the view of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud who claimed that “the law is not blind; it treats everyone equally” and legal identity evolved to confer equality and fairness.
  • Rejection of the colonial legacy: the renovation was a purposeful act aimed at moving away from colonial-era expressions. The statue adopts a strictly Indian understanding of justice and represents loyalty to the institutionalization of a modern legal system that would be consistent with today’s social values.
  • Balance and Integrity: When the sword is replaced by the scales of justice, it proves that its replacement represents the ongoing dedication to balance and fairness in judicial decisions. This helps emphasize that the court will continue to weigh the evidence impartially and hear all sides before making any decision.

Overall, the wide-eyed Lady Justice represents an enlightened approach to justice in India that is vigilant, inclusive and deeply rooted in constitutional principles rather than old-fashioned notions of blind justice.

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