LADY JUSTICE

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The Supreme Court has unveiled a new statue of Lady Justice, a saree-clad woman holding scales and the Constitution.

About Lady Justice

The image of Lady Justice has its roots in Greek and Roman mythology. 

In Greek mythology, "Themis" is a goddess representing justice, wisdom, and good counsel. She is usually shown holding scales in one hand and a sword in the other; symbolizing balance and the power to enforce justice.

Later, in Roman culture, "Emperor Augustus" introduced the "goddess Justitia", who closely resembled Themis. Justitia also did not wear a blindfold.

The concept of a blindfold was popularized by a woodcut from the 15th century titled “The Fool Blindfolding Justice,” created by the artist Albrecht Dürer, this woodcut was originally a critique of justice rather than a celebration of it, however, with time the blindfold became a symbol of impartiality, suggesting that justice treats everyone equally; regardless of their identity or status.

Lady Justice in India

India adopted the "Lady Justice" image during British rule, and it remains in the country’s court even today.

Lady Justice represents fairness, equality, and the rule of law. Usually, she’s shown as a woman with three key symbols: a blindfold, scales, and a sword.

Blindfold indicates that justice is assumed to be impartial, or "blind" to who you are. Whether you’re rich or poor, powerful or weak, everyone should be treated equally.

The Scales show that the law weighs both sides of a case before deciding. It’s about considering all evidence fairly and reaching a balanced judgment.

The Sword symbolizes the authority of the law. Justice isn’t just about fairness; it also means enforcing rules. The sword shows that laws can protect, but they can also punish.

The Chief Justice of India revealed a new statue of "Lady Justice"

The new Lady Justice is without a blindfold, which highlights that the judicial system sees and considers the circumstances of each case. This is a shift from the old idea of "justice is blind" to a new one: justice should be aware and sensitive to each situation.

The new statue is dressed in a saree, which makes it uniquely Indian, which connects the figure of Lady Justice to Indian culture.

Instead of a sword, the statue now holds the Constitution of India, which highlights the importance of the Constitution in the Indian legal system.

The scales remain the same, which represents balance and fairness in the court’s decisions. 

The new design of Lady Justice aims to highlight that: “Law is not blind; it sees everyone equally.”

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Source: 

Indian Express