India’s familiar Lady Justice statue, immortalised in history, movies, books, and pop culture has undergone a makeover.

"Nyaya Devi"&nbsp;[Goddess of Justice] is the newest installation at the Library of the Indian Supreme Court, in New Delhi. It was reportedly commissioned by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

<h2>What has changed?&nbsp;</h2>

The new statue does not have the iconic blindfold. She wears a sari instead of western robes and now carries the Constitution instead of the sword. The weighing scale has been retained.&nbsp;

<h2>Rome to India</h2>

The statues have their origin in Ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks worshipped Themis, who held scales and a sword in her hand, as tools for divine justice. Romans, whose mythology is closely linked to Greece, had Justitia, the Goddess of Justice.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/social-media-erupts-after-supreme-court-changes-the-look-of-lady-justice-statue-768741">Social media erupts after India's Supreme Court changes the look of Lady Justice statue</a>

She also had a sword in hand, symbolising the law's authority. This has now been replaced with the Constitution.

A source from the Chief Justice of India’s office has explained to NDTV, that “He (Chandrachud) said the statue should have the constitution in one hand and not a sword, so that a message goes out to the country that she dispenses justice according to the constitution. The sword is a symbol of violence, but courts deliver justice according to constitutional laws.”&nbsp;

The removal of the blindfold showed that the “law is not blind, and sees everyone equally.’

WION’s Akul Baiju caught up with Advocate Deepanjan Dutta of the Supreme Court and Advocate Sonam Priya of the Delhi High Court to know what this means for the country.&nbsp;

WION: Why has the sword been replaced by the Constitution?

Adv. Priya: “The sword signifies protection, and the use of force to maintain peace, punishment. Such a show of strength was more important when force was needed to secure a nation’s safety and stability. Unlike the sword's formidable nature, the Constitution is dynamic and more suited to the needs of society as it stands today."

Adv. Dutta: “The transition from the sword to the constitution reflects that justice is now governed by exalted constitutional principles rather than sheer might and authority.”

WION: Some people have called removing the blindfold as ‘judicial overreach.’ Is this true?&nbsp;

Adv. Priya: “ This is not necessarily judicial overreach. Although, some might argue that courts interpreting laws too broadly. This shift also highlights justice serving its deeper purpose and addressing social inequalities. The key is finding a balance not proceeding with the laws blindly, after all laws cater adaptability with times."

Adv. Dutta: “This situation does not involve any judicial overreach. The blindfold has long symbolized impartiality in the law, but its removal suggests a legal approach that is neutral yet also informed, responsive, and empathetic to the social context.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-scraps-unconstitutional-laws-that-promote-caste-based-discrimination-in-jails-764478">India's Supreme Court scraps 'unconstitutional' laws that promote caste-based discrimination in jails</a>

WION: How important is it to visualise the tenets of the judiciary and the Constitution?

Adv. Priya: “Making these principles more visible helps society understand them better."

Adv. Dutta: “These symbols like the statue in question represent the core values of the judiciary, emphasizing impartiality and justice as enshrined in the constitution. They also act as cultural touchstones, inspiring discussions about rights and justice.”

<h2>Political controversy and social media reactions</h2>

Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena(UBT) has criticised the new statue. He called it a “propaganda and a campaign of the BJP and RSS.”

India’s Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said “The blindfold on the statue of justice has been removed, and the handheld sword is replaced with the Constitution. The new design is a great way to pay respect to the country’s Constitution. My greetings to the CJI for this.”

Netizens had mixed reactions with many questioning the need for the replacement. Others wondered about the timing of the move and the symbolism of the statues.

Whatever the case may be, the world's largest democracy now has a new guardian of justice.

India’s familiar Lady Justice statue, immortalised in history, movies, books, and pop culture has undergone a makeover. "Nyaya Devi" [Goddess of Justice] is the newest installation at the Library of the Indian Supreme Court, in New Delhi.

India’s familiar Lady Justice statue, immortalised in history, movies, books, and pop culture has undergone a makeover. "Nyaya Devi" [Goddess of Justice] is the newest installation at the Library of the Indian Supreme Court, in New Delhi. It was reportedly commissioned by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. What has changed? The new statue does not have the iconic blindfold. She wears a sari instead of western robes and now carries the Constitution instead of the sword. The weighing scale has been retained. Rome to India The statues have their origin in Ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks worshipped Themis, who held scales and a sword in her hand, as tools for divine justice. Romans, whose mythology is closely linked to Greece, had Justitia, the Goddess of Justice. Also read | Social media erupts after India's Supreme Court changes the look of Lady Justice statue She also had a sword in hand, symbolising the law's authority. This has now been replaced with the Constitution. A source from the Chief Justice of India’s office has explained to NDTV, that “He (Chandrachud) said the statue should have the constitution in one hand and not a sword, so that a message goes out to the country that she dispenses justice according to the constitution. The sword is a symbol of violence, but courts deliver justice according to constitutional laws.” The removal of the blindfold showed that the “law is not blind, and sees everyone equally.’ WION’s Akul Baiju caught up with Advocate Deepanjan Dutta of the Supreme Court and Advocate Sonam Priya of the Delhi High Court to know what this means for the country. WION: Why has the sword been replaced by the Constitution? Adv. Priya: “The sword signifies protection, and the use of force to maintain peace, punishment. Such a show of strength was more important when force was needed to secure a nation’s safety and stability. Unlike the sword's formidable nature, the Constitution is dynamic and more suited to the needs of society as it stands today." Adv. Dutta: “The transition from the sword to the constitution reflects that justice is now governed by exalted constitutional principles rather than sheer might and authority.” WION: Some people have called removing the blindfold as ‘judicial overreach.’ Is this true? Adv. Priya: “ This is not necessarily judicial overreach. Although, some might argue that courts interpreting laws too broadly. This shift also highlights justice serving its deeper purpose and addressing social inequalities. The key is finding a balance not proceeding with the laws blindly, after all laws cater adaptability with times." Adv. Dutta: “This situation does not involve any judicial overreach. The blindfold has long symbolized impartiality in the law, but its removal suggests a legal approach that is neutral yet also informed, responsive, and empathetic to the social context.” Also read | India's Supreme Court scraps 'unconstitutional' laws that promote caste-based discrimination in jails WION: How important is it to visualise the tenets of the judiciary and the Constitution? Adv. Priya: “Making these principles more visible helps society understand them better." Adv. Dutta: “These symbols like the statue in question represent the core values of the judiciary, emphasizing impartiality and justice as enshrined in the constitution. They also act as cultural touchstones, inspiring discussions about rights and justice.” Political controversy and social media reactions Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena(UBT) has criticised the new statue. He called it a “propaganda and a campaign of the BJP and RSS.” India’s Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said “The blindfold on the statue of justice has been removed, and the handheld sword is replaced with the Constitution. The new design is a great way to pay respect to the country’s Constitution. My greetings to the CJI for this.” Netizens had mixed reactions with many questioning the need for the replacement. Others wondered about the timing of the move and the symbolism of the statues. Whatever the case may be, the world's largest democracy now has a new guardian of justice.

India's Lady Justice undergoes a makeover; lawyers react to the new SC statue

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India's Lady Justice undergoes a makeover; lawyers react to the new SC statue