Open-eyed Justitia statue sparks debate on inclusivity and representation

Source: The post Open-eyed Justitia statue sparks debate on inclusivity and representation has been created, based on the article “Universities are different from religious institutions” published in “The Hindu” on 16th November 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Judiciary

Context: The article discusses the new open-eyed Justitia statue at the Supreme Court of India, its historical context, interpretations, and public reactions. It questions the inclusivity of justice representation, linking it to caste, gender, religion, and judiciary perceptions.

What is the New Justitia Statue in the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court of India installed a six-foot white statue of Justitia, a sari-clad, ornamented goddess-like figure without a blindfold. It holds scales in one hand and the Indian Constitution in the other. Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud unveiled it in October 2024, stating it symbolizes justice that “sees everyone equally.”

For detailed information on The unveiling of a new statue of ‘Lady Justice’ in India and its significance read this article here

What is the Historical Context of Justitia’s Imagery?

1. Roman Times (1st-2nd Centuries): Justitia was depicted as open-eyed on Roman coins, symbolizing her ability to evaluate cases clearly and based on merit.
2. Introduction of the Blindfold (Late 15th Century): A 1494 wood engraving depicted Justice with a blindfold, initially seen as a symbol of impaired judgment and helplessness.
3. Transformation of the Blindfold (By 1530): The blindfold evolved to signify impartiality, neutrality, and equality before the law, resisting biases or distractions.

Why is the Statue Controversial?

1. Open-Eyed Representation: The open-eyed Justitia deviates from the traditional blindfolded imagery that symbolizes impartiality and neutrality. Critics argue it may signify bias.
2. Religious and Cultural Imagery: The sari-clad, goddess-like figure resembles Hindu iconography, raising concerns about promoting one religious tradition in a secular judiciary.
3. Public Perception: Social media users claim the statue implies justice is influenced by caste, religion, or political identity.

Why is Justice Representation Important?

1. The justice representation includes themes of protest, resistance, and struggle, emphasizing inclusivity and challenging judicial biases.
2. It Calls for greater representation of marginalized communities in the judiciary.
3. It warns against allowing decolonization to perpetuate old or new forms of discrimination.

What Can Be Learned from this Debate?

1. Justice iconography should promote equality, independence, and inclusivity.
2. Art and symbols must represent feminist, anti-caste, secular, and egalitarian ideals.
3. Avoiding precolonial or postcolonial discrimination is key to achieving fairness.

Question for practice:

Examine how the new Justitia statue at the Supreme Court of India reflects debates on inclusivity, impartiality, and cultural representation in the judiciary.