Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai addressed the nation on Independence Day, acknowledging both the progress made towards equality and the long road that remains. Gavai, only the second CJI from the Dalit community, highlighted President Droupadi Murmu's ascension to the highest constitutional office as a significant milestone, while also reminding citizens that the journey toward a truly just and inclusive India is far from over.

CJI Gavai emphasized the importance of the Santhal community, to which President Murmu belongs, and their historical significance in the fight against British rule, noting that a daughter of that community now holds the highest office in the land. He called Murmu's journey from a small village in Odisha to the Rashtrapati Bhavan a testament to the progress the country has made.

However, the CJI cautioned against complacency, stressing that much work remains to be done. He urged judges of the constitutional courts to actively promote, protect, imbibe, and defend the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Gavai called upon judges to give a broader and more purposeful interpretation to the values of the Constitution. He stated that true Swaraj, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi, and a complete democracy, as envisioned by Dr. Ambedkar, can only be achieved when the rights of the marginalized are protected.

Gavai also touched upon the roles and responsibilities of constitutional courts. He emphasized that the Supreme Court and High Courts are equal constitutional courts, clarifying that the Supreme Court collegium cannot dictate recommendations to a High Court collegium. He noted the Supreme Court can only suggest names and request the High Court collegium to consider them.

He called upon the legal community to commit to building an India where every child has access to education regardless of caste or economic status, where women feel safe, where every citizen is heard, and where truth is not suppressed. He urged judges to interpret laws in a way that expands freedom, protects the rights of the marginalized and strengthens the rule of law.

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore's prayer for a nation "where the mind is without fear and the head is held high," the CJI stated that these aspirations can only be fulfilled when Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Swaraj becomes real and Dr. Ambedkar's vision of democracy is complete. He also acknowledged the contributions of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, who opened doors of learning to the excluded, and Rabindranath Tagore, who renounced his knighthood in protest against injustice.

CJI Gavai highlighted the Constitution as a social document that addresses the realities of caste, poverty, exclusion, and injustice in India. He emphasized that the Constitution dares to intervene, rewrite the script, recalibrate power, and restore dignity. He further added that for India's vulnerable citizens, the Constitution is not merely a legal or political framework, but a feeling, a lifeline, and a quiet revolution.