Divergent thoughts & perspectives must be expressed: SC judge BV Nagarathna

Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Thursday said that divergent thoughts and perspectives must be considered and allowed to be expressed.

Speaking at the launch of senior advocate Indira Jaising's memoir 'The Constitution Is My Home', Justice Nagarathna said, ''Freedom of speech and expression are very important in a democracy. Divergent thoughts and perspectives must be considered and allowed to be expressed.''.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who was invited as the chief guest, could not attend the event.

He sent a video clip extending his warm greetings for the book launch and expressed his regret for not being present due to an upcoming BRICS judges meeting.

Justice Nagarathna said Jaising has been at the forefront of issues concerning the marginalised community.

''The title of the book is deeply revealing. Most lawyers visit the Constitution occasionally or regularly when there is a case, but Jaising seems to have taken a permanent residence,'' she said.

Justice Nagarathna also said that while the legal profession can be intensely competitive, the most enduring progress has come when women refused isolation and chose solidarity over scarcity.

''For generations, men in the legal profession have benefited from social networks of familiarity, recommendation, and professional sponsorship.

''There is, in fact, almost a kind of brotherhood, an exclusive male club, which lies in this inherited ease of belonging, the confidence of moving through systems where they almost naturally fit in.

''Women, by contrast, have entered the profession without such a network and ease in most cases. That is why sisterhood in the profession is very important. Sisterhood in the profession is not a slogan but a conscious intellectual and professional commitment to ensure that access does not end with individual achievement,'' Justice Nagarathna said.

The top court judge added that while senior women lawyers have achieved a lot, mentorship from seniors in the Bar is very important.

Observing that women are equal claimants to this nation's intellectual and institutional legacy, Justice Nagarathna said they are equal contributors, thinkers, and leaders in their own right.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)