Dr B.R. Ambedkar's statue will be unveiled on the premises on November 26, celebrated as Constitution Day.
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YESTERDAY, a group of Ambedkarite lawyers met to thank the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr D.Y. Chandrachud for the installation of the statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar within the premises of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of India is all set to unveil a statue of Dr Ambedkar on its premises on Constitution Day, that is, November 26.
This would be followed by an event to celebrate Constitution Day at the Supreme Court's auditorium where the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, is likely to be the chief guest.
The decision to install a statue of Dr Ambedkar has come after a persistent demand by a group of Ambedkarite lawyers. The Ambedkarite lawyers had written letters to the CJI on December 6 and April 14 demanding the installation of Dr Ambedkar's statute on the Supreme Court's lawns.
In a letter dated November 24, the Ambedkarite lawyers expressed their deepest gratitude and appreciation for the CJI and the Supreme Court's initiative in installing the statue that "honours Dr Ambedkar's enduring legacy".
The letter is written and signed by advocate-on-record Pratik Bombarde. The letter mentions core committee members of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Lawyers for Social Justice— Abhishek Kumar, Dharam Datta Verma, Subhash Kumar and Ritesh Patil.
The letter recalls that the first photograph of Dr Ambedkar was installed in the Supreme Court in 2015, on Dr Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary, after the Ambedkarite lawyers' persistent request to the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court administration.
Following the installation of the portrait in Library-I of the Supreme Court, Ambedkarite lawyers from across the country gather every year in the library to pay floral tribute to it on April 13, a day before Dr Ambedkar's birth anniversary, the letter states.
In addition, the letter says that each year, Ambedkarite lawyers also organise a programme to pay homage to Dr Ambedkar on his death anniversary on December 6.
Appreciating the decision to install the statute, the letter reads, "The installation of his [Dr Ambedkar's] statute in the Supreme Court is not only a fitting tribute to his legacy but also serves as a constant reminder of the principles of justice, equality and liberty that he championed."
"This gesture significantly symbolises the court's commitment to upholding the values enshrined in our Constitution and reinforces the belief in the judiciary's role as the guardian of constitutional rights and freedoms. It is the source of inspiration for every citizen reminding us of our duty to uphold the ideals of our democratic republic," the letter adds.
Dr Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, social reformer and political leader, who headed the drafting committee for the Constitution. He also served as the first Union Law and Justice Minister, and inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement after renouncing Hinduism. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of India, posthumously in 1990.