Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice B.R. Gavai recently emphasized that human dignity is the "soul of the Constitution," highlighting its crucial role in shaping the core values of the Preamble. Speaking at the 11th Dr. L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture, Justice Gavai explained how the Supreme Court has consistently recognized and elevated dignity as the unifying principle that binds liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice.

Justice Gavai stressed that dignity is not merely a personal right but also a collective constitutional value that is fundamental to the cohesion of Indian society. He noted that the framers of the Constitution considered human dignity to be a central concern, deeply intertwined with their vision of a just and egalitarian society.

While the term "dignity" is not explicitly defined in the chapter on Fundamental Rights, Justice Gavai pointed out that the judiciary has consistently interpreted it as central to Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and liberty. He cited landmark judgments from the late 1970s prison reform cases to more recent rulings on privacy, gender equality, and disability rights, demonstrating how the Court has invoked dignity as the constitutional foundation connecting individual freedoms to social justice.

Specifically, Justice Gavai referenced cases such as Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration (1978, 1980), where the Court condemned solitary confinement and degrading prison practices, and Francis Coralie Mullin v. Union Territory of Delhi (1981), which expanded the right to life to include living with dignity. He also mentioned more recent rulings like KS Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which recognized privacy as the "constitutional core of dignity," and Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), which affirmed the right to die with dignity. These cases illustrate how the Supreme Court has championed the right to dignity through multiple judgments.

Justice Gavai underscored that dignity extends beyond individual autonomy to encompass the rights of marginalized communities. He also highlighted the importance of personal autonomy and the capacity to make decisions about one's own life, emphasizing that human dignity is intrinsically connected to these aspects. He said that the freedom to exercise choice, personal agency, and self-determination are all encompassed within the concept of human dignity. According to Justice Gavai, a person cannot truly live with dignity if they are denied the ability to make choices regarding their body, actions, or life circumstances.

Furthermore, Justice Gavai reminded the audience that human dignity was central to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision of fraternity as the essence of democracy and to the framers' commitment in the Preamble to assure the dignity of every individual. He noted that the Preamble explicitly mentions "assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation," emphasizing the central role of dignity in building a democratic and cohesive society. By grounding constitutional interpretation in dignity, the judiciary has ensured that the Constitution remains a "living instrument," responsive to evolving societal challenges while remaining faithful to its foundational values.

In his concluding remarks, Justice Gavai quoted a resonant line from the privacy judgment, declaring: "To live is to live with dignity… Dignity is the core which unites the fundamental rights because the fundamental rights seek for each individual the dignity of existence". He also emphasized that the judiciary has consistently recognized human dignity as a substantive right and a normative lens through which all fundamental rights must be interpreted. He stressed that dignity is a fluid principle that connects the constitutional values of liberty, equality, and justice.