'Realisation Of A Long-Cherished Dream': CJI BR Gavai After Inaugurating New Court Building In Ambedkar's Ancestral Village

Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai said that it was "a dream come true" after he inaugurated a new court building at Mandangad in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district recently. "It was a dream come true for

me... the project is realisation of a long-cherished dream," he said.This occasion carried profound historical and cultural significance, as Mandangad Taluka is home to Ambadve village - the original ancestral village of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a towering figure in the history of social justice.The establishment of a modern court building in this region is not merely an infrastructural achievement but a tribute to Dr. Ambedkar’s lifelong mission of empowering the marginalised and upholding the rule of law, said CJI Gavai.Justice Gavai is the second dalit and first from Buddhist community to become the Chief Justice of India.Statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and murals depicting the milestones in the life of Dr. Ambedkar were also unveiled on the occasion.Those present on the occasion were Chief Minister, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice Chandrashekar, Deputy Chief Minister Shri. Eknath Shinde, Guardian Minister for Ratnagiri Shri. Uday Samant, Hon’ble Justice Makarand Karnik, Hon'ble Justice Madhav Jamdar, senior members of the judiciary and distinguished guests from across the State.This state-of-the-art facility stands as a symbol of the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to ensuring accessible, timely and effective justice for every citizen, including those in the remotest parts of thecountry. The new building is equipped with modern courtrooms, digital infrastructure, and adequate amenities to meet the growing demands of judicial work in the region.In his keynote address, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India emphasised the importance of strengthening grassroots judicial infrastructure to reinforce public trust in the legal system.“The country has remained united and on the path of development in war and peace. We have seen internal Emergency as well but we have remained strong and united. It is because of Dr. BabasahebAmbedkar's Constitution," Justice Gavai said."In the last 22 years as a judge, I have stood for decentralisation of justice and ensured several judicial infrastructure projects are completed. What gives me immense satisfaction is the Kolhapur circuit bench (of the Bombay High Court) and this Mandangad court building, which has been completed in two years," he said.Calling it the realisation of a dream, the Chief Justice of India thanked the Maharashtra Government for expediting the Mandangad court building project."Even though the doctrine of separation of powers of executive and judiciary is expected to deliver justice to people, judiciary has to get cooperation from the executive in terms of funds to ensure justice reaches one and all. Court buildings have been inaugurated recently in Nashik, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Daryapur. I feel proud about the quality of their construction," he said.