Sufism upheld secularism: Chief Justice of India

Srinagar, Jul 27: Chief Justice of India, Justice B R Gavai, Sunday credited Sufism for upholding the constitutional values like secularism. Presiding over the second day of the North Zone Regional Conference organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and J&K Legal Services Authority at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar,

Justice Gavai spoke of Kashmir’s 3000-year-old civilisational heritage, crediting Sufism for upholding the constitutional values like secularism.

He also reflected on the legal and administrative foundation laid in the region as early as 1846, calling it one of the oldest and most structured legal systems in India.

In a key policy suggestion, he urged the Chief Justice of the J&K and Ladakh High Court, Justice Arun Palli, to consider establishing a separate bench for Ladakh, acknowledging the consistent demand raised by the Ladakh Bar.

Justice Gavai began his presidential address with the famous Persian couplet, “If there is a paradise on Earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.”

He expressed deep personal joy at being in Kashmir, a place he described as feeling like home.

Justice Gavai lauded the efforts of NALSA and the J&K Legal Services Authority for convening the interaction.

Stressing the constitutional promise of justice, he said that while political justice had been achieved, economic and social justice must now be pursued earnestly through collaborative efforts of all three tiers of governance.

He emphasised the importance of nurturing a justice ecosystem that is professional, accessible and ethically grounded.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K and Ladakh Legal Services Authorities, Justice Arun Palli, reflected on the rich legacy of the region’s legal institutions.

He praised the younger generation of lawyers and underscored the significance of broadening professional opportunities and visibility for talent across districts, including the remote areas of Ladakh.

Judge, Supreme Court, Justice N Kotiswar Singh, addressed the importance of cultural integration, gender inclusion, and institutional memory in strengthening the justice delivery system.

He lauded the increasing participation of women in the Bar and advocated for deeper outreach into regions such as Ladakh.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Rajesh Bindal, reflected on his legal career beginnings in the region and stressed the need for merit-based legal education and digital literacy.

He cautioned against overdependence on AI and emphasised that diligence, reading, and traditional legal reasoning remain core to judicial performance.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice P S Narasimha, shared a reflective address on the dynamic role of advocates in the adjudicative process.

He encouraged lawyers to preserve regional languages and cultural moorings, arguing that justice is best served when expressed in the language and lived experiences of the people.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Vikram Nath, spoke warmly about the vibrant presence of lawyers from all three regions - Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh.

He celebrated the growing participation of women in law and urged members of the Bar to remain grounded in truth and compassion.

“Our robes may be black, but our duty is lit with the light of justice,” he said.

Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA, Justice Surya Kant, invoked the spirit of family unity to describe the conference.

He emphasised that women's empowerment in law was not a symbolic goal but a constitutional necessity. He proposed that eligible young women lawyers across J&K be empanelled as legal aid counsels, thereby expanding both their professional opportunities and the outreach of justice services.

The theme of the event, ‘In conversation with the Bar, a shared vision for legal transformation’, focused on building institutional bridges and reaffirming constitutional commitments in the legal ecosystem.

Among the members of the Bar who addressed the gathering, an advocate from Ladakh, Muhammad Amir, urged the Chief Justice of India to establish a separate bench for Ladakh within the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.

Senior advocate from Kashmir, G A Lone, called for deeper institutional dialogue between the judiciary and the Bar to help build an inclusive and equitable legal ecosystem.

Senior advocate from Jammu, Vikram Sharma, highlighted the historical legacy of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and advocated for the enactment of a comprehensive Victim Rights and Compensation Law, underlining the need to strengthen ethical, inclusive, and accessible justice for the marginalised.

High Court of J&K and Ladakh Judge, Justice Rahul Bharti proposed the vote of thanks.

KASHMIR HAS ENRICHED INDIA’S INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE’

Meanwhile, CJI Gavai, while addressing the ‘Mega Alumni Meet 2025’ of the University of Kashmir (KU) said, “Kashmir is known for its confluence of civilisation, its beauty, handicrafts, Pashmina shawls and cuisine. It has deeply enriched India’s intellectual and cultural discourse. Kashmir has produced voices that resonate far beyond its values.”

He expressed faith that the KU would produce students who would contribute to the development of J&K and the nation.

The CJI also urged the varsity to make use of its rich alumni to benefit the younger generation.

“I appeal to the university and the faculty to make use of the good alumni for the young generations. They can benefit from their rich experience and get a good roadmap for the future,” he said.

CJI Gavai said he had full faith and full belief that KU would produce many more students who would actually participate and contribute to the development of India as a nation and to the development of Kashmir as a region.

Describing Kashmir as a true paradise in the world, he said, “We have come here to Jannat (heaven).”

CJI Gavai said the university has produced a variety of talents from various walks of life who have contributed to law and judiciary, to politics, and to medical science.

Earlier, the CJI felicitated the university's alumni, including the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

“I was particularly happy to felicitate Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has represented my neighbouring district in Vidarbha. Not only that, he has been a very good friend of my father, and both of them have worked together in the Rajya Sabha and also in Maharashtra politics. I was also happy to felicitate Lok Sabha MP Mian Altaf. We also felicitated the other alumni for their valuable contribution,” he said.