All three wings of democracy must work together for public welfare: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai on Wednesday said the executive, legislature and judiciary are jointly responsible for securing the welfare of citizens, and none of these constitutional pillars can function in isolation. He was speaking at the project initiation ceremony for the new Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) campus in Mumbai.

CJI Gavai underlined that the Constitution embodies the principles of liberty, equality and justice, and the judiciary relies on the executive to ensure adequate infrastructure for courts and legal education. “The judiciary has neither the power of the sword nor the power of funds. Without support from the executive, it becomes difficult to strengthen judicial infrastructure,” he said.

He dismissed the perception that Maharashtra had neglected judicial infrastructure, noting that the state government has consistently been proactive. “The infrastructure provided to the judiciary in Maharashtra is among the best in the country,” he said, praising Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his support.

On legal education, the CJI said the field has evolved significantly and now places greater focus on practical training. “Law is an organic discipline. The infrastructure we are creating today is comparable to some of the best universities globally,” he added. He also recalled Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s view that lawyers serve as social engineers who help translate the promise of social justice into reality.

Fadnavis, speaking at the event, said Maharashtra now has three national law universities and expressed confidence that MNLU Mumbai would soon gain international recognition. He also said that the Educity project in Navi Mumbai is attracting several globally ranked universities.

Later in the day, CJI Gavai laid the foundation stone of the new Bombay High Court complex in Bandra (East). Calling it a “temple of justice,” he stressed that the new building must reflect democratic values rather than colonial grandeur. “We must remember that courts exist to serve citizens. The needs of litigants should remain at the centre,” he said.

Gavai, who is scheduled to retire on November 24, said the foundation stone ceremony held special significance as he had earlier served as a Bombay High Court judge. “It is meaningful to end my tenure with a project that will shape the future of justice delivery in my home state,” he remarked.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said the new complex, designed by architect Hafeez Contractor, will complement the historic court building at Fort. He assured that the facility would be technologically advanced and built on time. Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde also described the project as a major milestone, noting that land allocation is underway and the estimated cost exceeds ₹4,000 crore.