New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan on Sunday said that in merit-based selection, women secure more than 50% of the posts of judicial officers in states, but in the collegium’s subjective assessment criteria, only very few women are selected as judges of high courts and SCs.Addressing the first national conference of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Bengaluru, Justice Bhuyan said there is a very good representation of women in the judicial services in the states, with some even crossing the 50% mark. “But has it been replicated in constitutional courts? That is the question. This is where the scrutiny of the collegium system comes in. Why is it that when evaluation becomes subjective, women do not make the grade? Out of 287 SC judges since 1950, we have had only 11 women judges overall. Why? Starting with Fatima Beevi and now Justice Nagarathna, it is about 2%,” he said.Justice Bhuyan said women constitute only 14% of HC judges. “Of the 25 HCs, we have only two women chief justices (CJs) – Gujarat and Meghalaya. Another will become CJ in a month’s time. This is also highly inadequate, three out of 25 HCs,” she said. “My research shows that whenever the recruitment process is purposeful, more women enter the judicial field. When India becomes a developed nation (Developed India by 2047), there should be more parity in gender representation in the judiciary. The SC should be a rainbow institution, which truly reflects the diversity of the country,” Justice Bhuyan said.Former CJI BR Gavai said there are several Supreme Court judgments which have stated that if the name of a person recommended for judgeship in the HC is returned by the government for reconsideration and reiterated by the collegium, the government has no option but to appoint him. “But there are many instances where even after repeated requests, persons have not been appointed,” he said. “The collegium is not a perfect system, but at least for the time being, it is the best fit for the country,” he said.“He said the judiciary has been criticized mainly for its inability to deal with arrears and backlog, delays in disposal of cases at various levels, lack of transparency in administrative decision making (appointment of judges), long holidays and lack of diversity, especially women’s representation in the constitutional courts.The former CJI said that the Supreme Court has made mistakes in many cases, including the first major decision related to right to life in the AK Gopalan case and the Emergency-era ADM Jabalpur case. “Criticism is important for any institution, including the judiciary,” he said.He recalled the maiden speech of the first CJI, Harilal Jacisandas Kania, who had said that the Supreme Court should function independently of the legislature and the executive, interpreting the Constitution as a living document.Justice Bhuyan said, “The SC must earn the respect of citizens, not demand it… Judicial power depends not just on law but on trust and legitimacy. Accountability, integrity and transparency must be made essential for the judiciary to function effectively in a democratic society. The judiciary has neither a purse nor a sword. Its only asset is the goodwill of the people, which is the core of judicial strength.”He said that institutions in a developed nation should have functional autonomy. “The investigating agencies as well as the media should be able to perform their duties without any political interference or control. Development should be in accordance with the Directive Principles of State Policy and no one should be deprived of development, especially those who have been historically neglected.”

New Delhi: Justice Vikram Nath, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, on Sunday said artificial intelligence can be a facilitator for the justice delivery system, but it can never replace the core function – writing judgments – which will always remain with the judges.Speaking on ‘Challenges, Innovation and Role of AI in Judicial Administration’ at the first national conference of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Bengaluru, Justice Nath said, “AI can be used as a tool to enhance the judicial system, but it cannot replace the judgment or the mind of judges in deciding what is to be decided.” Justice Nath said, “There cannot be any fixed data set in the millions of cases dealt with by the courts. For example, matrimonial cases, disposal of commercial cases, equity balancing – the court can understand the nuances of each case by reading the papers and listening to the lawyer, which is factually different from the other. Only judges know how to strike a balance in family partition suits.”He said, “AI cannot decide cases involving constitutional issues. There are innumerable complexities in criminal cases – how to appreciate the evidence, when to grant bail; there can be 10 accused in a single FIR, the court can grant bail to nine but reject one. AI cannot deal with all of these. AI is there to help us in many aspects – collecting data, classifying cases, translation etc. But the decision will remain only with the judges.“Justice Nath also appreciated the initiative taken by SCBA President Vikas Singh in the conference.Supreme Court judge AG Masih said, “AI is not here to replace lawyers and judges. Data-driven intelligence cannot replace human conscience. The function of courts depends on public trust to deliver justice by carefully balancing rights and liabilities and assessing the factual circumstances with a human heart.” Emotions cannot be replicated by AI, which can facilitate judicial activities but not replace them.“The judge said there appears to be a need to institutionalize guidelines for court technology and, perhaps, create a judicial-tech oversight board to maintain and check AI tools for bias and review an automated draft. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya said that hallucination is inherent in mankind and mankind has created AI. Therefore, AI also contained hallucinations and this was what made it dangerous for the judiciary as it presented case law and logic that was non-existent or imaginary, he said.Delhi HC Chief Justice DK Upadhyay raised the issue of the use of AI-assisted judgment drafting software in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, UK, UAE and China. “Collectively, AI is becoming increasingly integrated into multiple domains of judicial administration, from administrative efficiency to substantive support functions, while also raising important questions about accountability, fairness, and the limits of automation in the judicial system,” he said.Justice Upadhyay said, “AI-manipulated images, deepfakes undermine the integrity of maliciously deployed evidence and adversely impact the administration of justice. Courts may have to re-examine the traditional reliance on photographs and videos… The burden on parties to establish authenticity will increase and the judiciary will have to rely more on forensic tests of such evidence.”

In the collective consciousness of India, a soldier killed in the line of duty is not seen simply as a war casualty, but as a shaheed, a ‘martyr’ whose sacrifice becomes part of the nation’s identity.On Martyrs’ Day observed on March 23, India remembers the sacrifice of Bhagat SinghSukhdev and Rajguru, who were killed by the British in 1931. Their legacy continues today in the sacrifices of soldiers serving the country, and Martyrs’ Day is an opportunity to understand how India honors their acts of bravery.Over time, India has created a system to honor its fallen soldiers, including official ceremonies, support for families, and public commemoration.From the Amar Chakra at the National War Memorial to pension and education schemes reaching families in remote areas, India tries to ensure that no soldier who died for the country is forgotten.The most serious event is the arrival of a martyr’s body in his hometown. The coffin is often draped in the national flag and given a guard of honor accompanied by local politicians, police and civil society leaders.In many cases, the local community organizes a procession and a brief ceremony, showing that the martyr belongs not only to the regiment, but also to the village, the city, and the nation.

gallantry award

India’s gallantry awards are among the highest honors bestowed on members of the armed forces and, in some cases, civilians.The families of recipients are invited to formal ceremonies, often at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the medal is presented, and the story of the soldier’s valor is told.The highest wartime award is the Param Vir Chakra, awarded for “most conspicuous gallantry” in the presence of the enemy. This is followed by the Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra, which recognize acts of gallantry during military operations.In peacetime, the country awards the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra for acts of bravery including counter-insurgency operations and rescue operations.

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These awards are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day, ensuring national recognition for acts of courage.

National War Memorial

The National War Memorial in New Delhi stands as a central place in memory of the soldiers who died in service after independence.This monument stands with an eternal flame called Amar Chakra (Whirl of Immortality) at its centre. Before the National War Memorial, the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate served as the main site to pay homage to soldiers, especially those killed in the 1971 war.Around Amar Chakra, concentric “Walls of Honour” are inscribed with the names of over 26,000 soldiers, each slab symbolizing the ancient battle formation of ‘Chakravyuh’, and each soldier’s name is inscribed in granite to signify permanence and dignity.Every evening, a retreat ceremony is held at the National War Memorial, where the national flag and the flags of the Army, Navy and Air Force are lowered before sunset as the last post is sounded.On Sundays and special occasions, the change-of-guard ceremony, accompanied by military band performances, attracts schoolchildren, tourists and veterans.Flower laying ceremonies by the Prime Minister and senior officials are held here on important national occasions.This memorial reflects India’s effort to create a permanent place of honor for its fallen soldiers.

National War Memorial, Delhi

assistance to families

Apart from memorials, India also honors its soldiers through a strong welfare and support system for their families.It is both a moral responsibility and social security for families who have lost a member in service.The families of martyrs receive central ex-gratia payments as well as pension schemes that provide long-term financial support.Pension for war-bereaved families is usually set at 100% of the soldier’s last drawn basic pay along with other components, helping widows and children maintain financial stability.Additional assistance includes education allowances covering tuition and hostel fees for children, cashless medical care under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and benefits related to housing and small business assistance.Some state and central schemes also provide interest subsidy on home loans as well as financial assistance for marriage of daughters or remarriage of widows to help families rebuild their lives.Employment assistance is another important measure, in which the government reserves some jobs for the next of kin of martyred soldiers.

Martyr’s Day: Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru remembered

Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev

On March 23, 1931, three young revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivram Rajguru, were hanged, becoming enduring symbols of courage and defiance against British colonial rule. He was sentenced to death in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. The spark for their action came after the brutal death of Lala Lajpat Rai. While leading a protest against the Simon Commission, Rai was beaten by Superintendent of Police JS Scott and later died of his injuries on 17 November 1928. Enraged, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and Chandra Shekhar Azad conspired to avenge his death. In a case of mistaken identity, they shot another officer, Saunders, instead. Initially, the British were unaware of the criminals. It was a handwritten poster by Bhagat Singh explaining the motive behind the murder that linked him and his comrades to Saunders’ death. Later, Bhagat Singh’s dramatic protest in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929, where he threw a bomb against two repressive bills, brought him to the attention of the authorities. Even when facing execution, all three showed no fear. They walked proudly to the gallows in Lahore Central Jail, shouting slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad”. Bhagat Singh famously sang Mera Rang De Basanti Chola – “O Mother! Color my robe in the colors of spring”, turning his death into a celebration of freedom rather than despair. Despite appeals for clemency and widespread public support, all three were hanged, leaving a lasting legacy. Today Martyr’s Day is a tribute to their bravery, self-sacrifice and patriotism. His courage will continue to inspire generations of Indians.Therefore, Martyrs’ Day reminds us of the value of freedom and the responsibility of every citizen. It honors those who fought for the country and inspires people to uphold the values ​​of courage, commitment and selflessness.