Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna on Saturday flagged the trend of Governors not performing their role as defined under the Constitution..Justice Nagarathna quoted freedom fighter G Durgabai on the subject of neutrality of Governors, saying,"But in today’s times unfortunately some of the Governors in India are playing a role where they ought not to and are inactive where they ought to be.".The apex court judge was delivering the keynote address at the Pluralist Agreement and Constitutional Transformation Conference organised by National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.The theme of the lecture was Home in the Nation: Indian Women’s Constitutional Imagination.Karnataka High Court Chief Justice NV Anjaria and NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Sudhir Krishnaswamy were also present on the occasion..In her speech, Justice Nagarathna explained that the freedom movement was not just for political freedoms, but social reforms too."The framing of the Constitution did not only mark the end of a struggle against political subjugation, but equally demonstrates a struggle for self-determination against multi-layered oppressive structures, such as race, caste, etc. The bold aspirations of our transformative Constitution are manifest in its grant of rights and remedies against oppressive social wrongs such as prejudice, stigma, stereotypes and exploitation," she said.She underscored that revitalising the private sphere and assuring the dignity of women were among the cornerstones of the national agenda for social renaissance.Further, the participation of Indian women in the Constituent Assembly fundamentally impacted the Constitution's transformative approach, she pointed out."Nationalism in India was neither the sole preserve of the men nor merely preoccupied with political liberty...the Indian women’s movement cultivated a transformative, constitutional imagination, yet pragmatic...constitutional semantics and design that we so treasure today are products of a women’s movement which coalesced the struggle to transform the private sphere, i.e. the home, with the transcendental quest for national enfranchisement and emancipation.".Pertinently, Justice Nagarathna stated that constitutional morality and constitutional semantics developed by our founding mothers must not be pigeonholed by any discourse that looks at them only as members of the women’s movement."Our academic and legal discourse must credit our founding mothers as primarily and wholly constitutionalists with enviable foresight."To deepen Indian constitutionalism, emphasis on federalism, fraternity, fundamental rights and principled governance is key, she added.In conclusion, Justice Nagarathna called for introspection on whether India's founding ideals had been secured, as the nation has a long way to go."Such introspection would also provide a template for conversations about building a better tomorrow...Fortunately, there is the Constitution which touches, moves and inspires our collective lives like a North Star. It is a permanent reminder that a more democratic, a more equal, a more just, and a more tolerant nation continues to remain an ideal, even in contemporary times.".In March this year, Justice Nagarathna had called for Governors to act in line with the Constitution, rather than be told what to do and what not to..States increasingly moving Supreme Court over political issues: Attorney General R Venkataramani.The remarks assume significance at a time when the Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the conduct of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. The states of Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal and Punjab have moved court in recent times against their respective Governors.
Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna on Saturday flagged the trend of Governors not performing their role as defined under the Constitution..Justice Nagarathna quoted freedom fighter G Durgabai on the subject of neutrality of Governors, saying,"But in today’s times unfortunately some of the Governors in India are playing a role where they ought not to and are inactive where they ought to be.".The apex court judge was delivering the keynote address at the Pluralist Agreement and Constitutional Transformation Conference organised by National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.The theme of the lecture was Home in the Nation: Indian Women’s Constitutional Imagination.Karnataka High Court Chief Justice NV Anjaria and NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Sudhir Krishnaswamy were also present on the occasion..In her speech, Justice Nagarathna explained that the freedom movement was not just for political freedoms, but social reforms too."The framing of the Constitution did not only mark the end of a struggle against political subjugation, but equally demonstrates a struggle for self-determination against multi-layered oppressive structures, such as race, caste, etc. The bold aspirations of our transformative Constitution are manifest in its grant of rights and remedies against oppressive social wrongs such as prejudice, stigma, stereotypes and exploitation," she said.She underscored that revitalising the private sphere and assuring the dignity of women were among the cornerstones of the national agenda for social renaissance.Further, the participation of Indian women in the Constituent Assembly fundamentally impacted the Constitution's transformative approach, she pointed out."Nationalism in India was neither the sole preserve of the men nor merely preoccupied with political liberty...the Indian women’s movement cultivated a transformative, constitutional imagination, yet pragmatic...constitutional semantics and design that we so treasure today are products of a women’s movement which coalesced the struggle to transform the private sphere, i.e. the home, with the transcendental quest for national enfranchisement and emancipation.".Pertinently, Justice Nagarathna stated that constitutional morality and constitutional semantics developed by our founding mothers must not be pigeonholed by any discourse that looks at them only as members of the women’s movement."Our academic and legal discourse must credit our founding mothers as primarily and wholly constitutionalists with enviable foresight."To deepen Indian constitutionalism, emphasis on federalism, fraternity, fundamental rights and principled governance is key, she added.In conclusion, Justice Nagarathna called for introspection on whether India's founding ideals had been secured, as the nation has a long way to go."Such introspection would also provide a template for conversations about building a better tomorrow...Fortunately, there is the Constitution which touches, moves and inspires our collective lives like a North Star. It is a permanent reminder that a more democratic, a more equal, a more just, and a more tolerant nation continues to remain an ideal, even in contemporary times.".In March this year, Justice Nagarathna had called for Governors to act in line with the Constitution, rather than be told what to do and what not to..States increasingly moving Supreme Court over political issues: Attorney General R Venkataramani.The remarks assume significance at a time when the Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the conduct of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. The states of Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal and Punjab have moved court in recent times against their respective Governors.
