{"id":12139,"date":"2025-11-22T10:31:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T10:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=12139"},"modified":"2025-12-03T12:05:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T12:05:35","slug":"justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/","title":{"rendered":"Justice Gavai: A Journey of Humility, Constitutional Faith &amp; Judicial Courage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Justice_Gavai_Turned_a_Humble_Beginning_into_a_Constitutional_Legacy\"><\/span>How <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> Turned a Humble Beginning into a Constitutional Legacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Justice_Gavai_and_His_Remarkable_Farewell\"><\/span>Justice Gavai and His Remarkable Farewell<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> delivered his farewell speech upon retiring as the Chief Justice of India, the occasion became far more than a formal goodbye. It evolved into a deeply personal reflection on a life shaped by constitutional values, social justice, and unwavering faith in the rule of law. From a small semi-urban school to the highest court of the land, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> stands as living proof of what the Indian Constitution makes possible.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#How_Justice_Gavai_Turned_a_Humble_Beginning_into_a_Constitutional_Legacy\" >How Justice Gavai Turned a Humble Beginning into a Constitutional Legacy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Justice_Gavai_and_His_Remarkable_Farewell\" >Justice Gavai and His Remarkable Farewell<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#A_Childhood_Rooted_in_Ambedkarite_Values\" >A Childhood Rooted in Ambedkarite Values<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Over_40_Years_in_Law_Guided_by_the_Constitution\" >Over 40 Years in Law: Guided by the Constitution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Justice_Gavai_as_a_Champion_of_Environmental_Protection\" >Justice Gavai as a Champion of Environmental Protection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Social_Justice_and_the_Reality_of_Unequal_Starting_Points\" >Social Justice and the Reality of Unequal Starting Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Liberty_and_the_Role_of_the_Supreme_Court\" >Liberty and the Role of the Supreme Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Defending_Judicial_Independence_and_the_Rule_of_Law\" >Defending Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#The_Bar_and_Bench_Two_Wheels_of_the_Same_Chariot\" >The Bar and Bench: Two Wheels of the Same Chariot<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Leadership_in_Appointments_and_Access_to_Justice\" >Leadership in Appointments and Access to Justice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Learning_from_Colleagues_and_the_Value_of_Collegiality\" >Learning from Colleagues and the Value of Collegiality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Behind_the_Bench_Registry_Researchers_and_Law_Clerks\" >Behind the Bench: Registry, Researchers and Law Clerks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Family_Sacrifices_and_a_New_Phase_of_Life\" >Family Sacrifices and a New Phase of Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#The_Guiding_Philosophy_of_Justice_Gavai\" >The Guiding Philosophy of Justice Gavai<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/justice-gavai-a-journey-of-humility-constitutional-faith-judicial-courage\/#Conclusion_Justice_Gavais_Enduring_Legacy\" >Conclusion: Justice Gavai\u2019s Enduring Legacy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Childhood_Rooted_in_Ambedkarite_Values\"><\/span>A Childhood Rooted in Ambedkarite Values<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Born into a family devoted to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar\u2019s ideals, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> grew up in an environment where the Constitution was not just a document but a way of life. His father, an ardent follower of Dr. Ambedkar, embedded in him the values of equality, dignity, and social transformation from an early age. His mother taught him the virtues of hard work and the dignity of every form of labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a young boy, his only dream was modest: to one day live in a manager\u2019s bungalow in an industrial township he once visited during his school days. Destiny, however, carried him much further. Years later, he returned to that very town not as an employee, but as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, welcomed by the top management at the city limits. For <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong>, this journey symbolised the transformative power of the Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_40_Years_in_Law_Guided_by_the_Constitution\"><\/span>Over 40 Years in Law: Guided by the Constitution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on his professional journey, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> recalled that he served as a lawyer for 18 years and as a judge for more than 22 years. Throughout this span of over four decades, he said he was consistently guided by the principles of the Constitution. The ideals of <em>equality, liberty, justice and fraternity<\/em> were not abstract concepts for him; they were living principles shaping his decisions and his sense of duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even as a lawyer, he was inspired by the Constituent Assembly Debates and the powerful speeches of Dr. Ambedkar, especially those delivered in December 1948 and November 1949. The warning that democracy would crumble \u201clike a house of cards\u201d if social and economic inequalities remained unaddressed deeply influenced his judicial philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Justice_Gavai_as_a_Champion_of_Environmental_Protection\"><\/span>Justice Gavai as a Champion of Environmental Protection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Environmental protection was always close to the heart of <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong>. Even in his early years, as a junior lawyer, he represented organisations such as the Bombay Natural History Society and helped secure crucial orders for protecting tiger reserves like Pench and Tadoba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a Supreme Court judge, and particularly while presiding over the environment bench in the last three years, he authored at least 18 significant judgments on environment and ecology. Under his watch, the court passed many orders to protect forests, wildlife, and fragile ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of his first judgments in Court No. 1 dealt with a prime parcel of land in Pune that had been illegally allotted to a builder, despite being reserved forest land. <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> directed that the land be restored to the forest department and used only for conservation, effectively creating much-needed \u201cgreen lungs\u201d for the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remarkably, one of his last judgments as Chief Justice concerned the protection of the Aravalli hills and ranges, which act as a natural barrier against the spread of the Thar desert. He warned that if the Aravallis are destroyed, regions like Delhi could eventually face desertification. His environmental legacy reflects a deep commitment to intergenerational justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Social_Justice_and_the_Reality_of_Unequal_Starting_Points\"><\/span>Social Justice and the Reality of Unequal Starting Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> has consistently stood for social justice. One of the early instances he recalled was as a government counsel in the year 2000, when a court order mandated the demolition of all slums in Nagpur within a week. Recognising the devastating human and law-and-order consequences of such an order, he challenged it and secured a stay, thereby protecting thousands of vulnerable residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Years later, as a Supreme Court judge, he had the opportunity to regularise slum dwellings in another matter, balancing forest preservation with the rights of long-settled inhabitants. This continuity \u2014 from advocate to judge \u2014 gave him a profound sense of satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most debated judgments associated with <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> dealt with sub-classification within Scheduled Castes. He was candid about the criticism he faced, including from within his own community, but he defended the core idea: that true equality requires recognising unequal starting points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He posed a powerful question: can a son of a senior officer who studies in the best schools be asked to compete on the same footing with a tribal or Dalit student in a remote village school with no resources? To <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong>, Article 14 does not demand mechanical sameness. Instead, it calls for substantive equality that lifts those who are left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Liberty_and_the_Role_of_the_Supreme_Court\"><\/span>Liberty and the Role of the Supreme Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another pillar central to <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong>\u2019s judicial philosophy is liberty. In his farewell reflection, he narrated how he and his colleagues took up urgent matters where personal liberty was at stake, even late in the evening. He was disturbed by cases where interim protection was denied, leaving individuals exposed to arrest and harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong>, prolonged incarceration without trial amounts to punishment without conviction. He held that the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 is a \u201csupervening right\u201d that cannot be casually overridden by procedural or statutory restrictions. The Supreme Court, in his view, must remain the true custodian of liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Defending_Judicial_Independence_and_the_Rule_of_Law\"><\/span>Defending Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent and widely noted decision, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> emphasised that judicial independence, including that of tribunals, forms a basic feature of the Constitution. Tribunals, he said, are an integral part of the justice system and their independence cannot be compromised by executive control or structural imbalance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also takes pride in the so-called \u201cbulldozer justice\u201d or demolition judgments, where the court held that families cannot be rendered homeless merely because a person is under suspicion or even convicted. The right to shelter, he reiterated, is an essential component of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bar_and_Bench_Two_Wheels_of_the_Same_Chariot\"><\/span>The Bar and Bench: Two Wheels of the Same Chariot<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In his farewell address, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> gracefully acknowledged the vital role of the legal fraternity. He described the bar and bench as \u201ctwo wheels of the golden chariot of the institution of judiciary\u201d \u2014 neither superior nor inferior to the other. The bar, he reminded, is the mother of judges, for it is from the bar that judges emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also highlighted his efforts to accept and address genuine demands of the bar, including infrastructure, chambers, and facilities. He insisted that any court complex must be designed not just for judges, but equally for lawyers and litigants, for whom the entire system exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Leadership_in_Appointments_and_Access_to_Justice\"><\/span>Leadership in Appointments and Access to Justice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the administrative side, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> and his colleagues in the collegium were instrumental in appointing more than 100 judges to High Courts across India. He expressed special happiness for the increased strength in his own parent High Court as well as other major High Courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He strongly believed in decentralising access to justice. The creation and strengthening of benches such as those at Nagpur and Aurangabad meant that litigants from distant districts no longer needed to undertake expensive and exhausting journeys to Mumbai. Lawyers too, he observed, were pleased with the improved disposal rates and easier access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_from_Colleagues_and_the_Value_of_Collegiality\"><\/span>Learning from Colleagues and the Value of Collegiality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> warmly acknowledged his colleagues on the bench, describing the process of judging as one of \u201cmutual learning.\u201d Many fields, such as insolvency, electricity law and certain aspects of arbitration, were relatively new to him on arrival at the Supreme Court, and he stated that he benefitted immensely from sharing benches with experienced judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During his short tenure as Chief Justice, he presided over three Constitution Benches. In some cases, the judges were unanimous from the very beginning; in others, they began with differences but, through dialogue and repeated discussions, eventually arrived at a common view. He regarded this consultative, dialogic process as an essential strength of constitutional adjudication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Behind_the_Bench_Registry_Researchers_and_Law_Clerks\"><\/span>Behind the Bench: Registry, Researchers and Law Clerks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In characteristic humility, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> underlined that although judgments are pronounced in the names of judges, they are the product of the hard work of an entire institution. From court attendants to the Registrar General, the staff of the Supreme Court plays a vital role in the administration of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He particularly praised the Centre for Research and his team of law clerks, describing them as indispensable partners in the judicial process. He acknowledged that they often work as hard as, if not harder than, the judges themselves. He also expressed grief at the untimely loss of a young and promising member of his team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Family_Sacrifices_and_a_New_Phase_of_Life\"><\/span>Family Sacrifices and a New Phase of Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> spoke with emotion about the sacrifices made by his family. Weekends rarely existed for him; he would often travel on Friday evenings, spend Saturdays and Sundays with judgments and files, and return to Delhi on Sunday night. His wife\u2019s gentle complaint \u2014 that weekends were never truly spent together \u2014 was, he admitted, entirely justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With retirement, he hopes to find the time he could not give earlier. One of his heartfelt wishes is to work for the welfare of tribal communities in his home district, with whom he has had a close association since the days of his father\u2019s public life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Guiding_Philosophy_of_Justice_Gavai\"><\/span>The Guiding Philosophy of Justice Gavai<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In closing, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> recalled a simple yet profound teaching from his father: if you can do good for someone, you should; and if you cannot, at the very least, do no harm \u2014 not even to your enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also quoted John Wesley, as cited by Lord Denning, words that he tried to live by throughout his career:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cDo all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>With characteristic modesty, he concluded that for a judge, the real judgment comes not from the bench but from the bar and the people. On his farewell day, he said, it was for others to decide how successful he had been in following these principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_Justice_Gavais_Enduring_Legacy\"><\/span>Conclusion: Justice Gavai\u2019s Enduring Legacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The legacy of <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> is not confined to citations and law reports. It lives in the lives of slum dwellers spared from arbitrary demolition, in forests and hills preserved for future generations, in tribals and marginalised communities given a fairer chance, and in countless individuals whose liberties were protected when it mattered most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His journey from a modest childhood to the position of Chief Justice of India embodies the promise of the Constitution. As he steps into a new phase of life, <strong>Justice Gavai<\/strong> leaves behind a powerful message: that the highest form of justice is rooted in empathy, courage, and a steadfast commitment to do good, and to do no harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also Read:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/Legal-Articles\/chief-justices-of-india-1950-2025-biographies-landmark-judgments-judicial-legacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chief Justices of India 1950\u20132025: Biographies, Landmark Judgments &amp; Judicial Legacy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/Legal-Articles\/justice-chandrachud-interview-lessons-on-judicial-ethics-privacy-the-future-of-indian-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justice Chandrachud Interview: Lessons on Judicial Ethics, Privacy &amp; the Future of Indian Law<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Justice Gavai Turned a Humble Beginning into a Constitutional Legacy Justice Gavai and His Remarkable Farewell When Justice Gavai delivered his farewell speech upon retiring as the Chief Justice of India, the occasion became far more than a formal goodbye. It evolved into a deeply personal reflection on a life shaped by constitutional values,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":352,"featured_media":12140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12139","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-supreme-court"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/justice-gavai-supreme-court-constitution-justice.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}