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

The recent unveiling of a new statue of Lady Justice at the Supreme Court of India marks a significant departure from traditional representations. 

Key Differences

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

Symbolic Changes

1. Removing the Blindfold: This ancient blindfolded statue, representing that justice should not be blind to passion or influence from outside sources like wealth or status was viewed to have been removed-the current view is justice knows all and sees everything of its status.
2. Constitution vs. Sword: The sword in the old statue symbolizes the power to enforce law and punishment. The new statue holding the Constitution focuses on justice with a constitutional foundation, pertinent to the changing legal structure of India.
3. Attire: This is a transformation from the trends of the Western robe dress code to donning an Indian saree - an aspect that shows a larger transition toward assuming the Indian identity in the judicial institution.
4. Open Eyes: The old statue has open eyes. This would illustrate that this is coming up with proactive justice that knows the problems in society but fights for fairness instead of equality.

These changes were initiated under Chief Justice DY Chandrachud's leadership, aiming to modernize the judiciary and move away from colonial legacies.

The open-eyed Lady Justice statue at the Supreme Court of India signifies a transformative view of justice's role in society, reflecting modern values and principles. 

Significance of Open Eyes

• Awareness and Engagement: Open eyes symbolize knowledge about the complexity and differentiation within society. The image would then contrast for it is, in a way, an icon of detached impartiality.
• Constitutional Focus: The statue holds the Constitution in her hand rather than a sword, much as to indicate that justice is deep-rooted into constitutional values rather than punishment. Shifting from such practices showed a commitment to uphold rights and fairness in the eye of the Constitution against symbols of colonial authority and violence.
• Inclusivity and Fairness: The design has a more inclusive aspect toward justice, meaning that it is supposed to take aboard different viewpoints and experiences instead of ascribing everyone as same in the eyes of the law. This is at par with what Chief Justice DY Chandrachud holds forth and his claim that "the law is not blind; it sees everyone equally," legal identity evolving into one that grants equality and fairness.
• Rejection of the Colonial Legacy: The renovation is a purposeful act that seeks to move away from manifestations of the colonial era. Adopting an understanding of justice that would strictly be Indian, the statue represented an allegiance to the institutionalization of a modern legal system that would align instead with societal values as it stand today.
• Balance and Integrity: Where the sword was displaced by the scales of justice, this goes to prove that its post-replacement alternative represents a continued dedication to balance and fairness in judicial decisions. This helps underscore that courts will continue weighing evidence impartially, hearing all parties' voices before making any decision before it.

Overall, the open-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 ideas about blind impartiality.

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