PM a versatile genius: SC Judge

Justice Arun Mishra, the third senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, today described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an “internationally acclaimed visionary and a versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally”.

“Dignified human existence is our prime concern. We thank the versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally — Shri Narendra Modi — for his inspiring speech that would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference,” said Justice Mishra, while delivering the vote of thanks at the inaugural function of the International Judicial Conference, 2020, during which PM Modi addressed the gathering. Judges from over 20 countries are attending the conference, which is being organised here at the Supreme Court.

Describing India as the biggest democracy in the world, he said people wondered how it was functioning so successfully. “India is a responsible and most friendly member of the international community under the stewardship of internationally acclaimed visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi…India is committed to constitutional obligations and dedicated to a peaceful world, which is free from terrorism. In the process of development, preservation of environment is considered supreme,” said Justice Mishra.

Noting that the challenges faced by the judiciary at the national and international levels were



common and judiciary had a significant role in the ever-changing world, he said there was a need to strengthen this system.

Earlier, Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde said the rule of law was the “most fundamental feature” of modern constitutions and its success depended on how judiciaries across the world responded to emerging challenges.

Addressing the conference, the CJI stressed the need for citizens to perform their legal duties.

“Probably the most fundamental feature of modern constitutions is the idea of the rule of law. Undoubtedly, the success of the rule of law in our countries depends on how the judiciaries respond to such challenges and how they emerge,” Justice Bobde said.

Referring to constitutional provisions, Justice Bobde said it was often implicit in law that “legal rights have correlatives of legal duties”.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Justice Bobde said the exercise of rights depended on one’s sense of duty and “real rights are a result of performance of duty”. Describing India as a melting pot of cultures, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to top court’s judgments and said terrorists and corrupt people had “no right to privacy” and they should not be allowed to abuse the system. He said governance must be left to elected representatives and delivering judgments should be left to judges.