Authored By: Sakshi Tanwani
M.B.KHALSA LAW COLLEGE, INDORE, MADHYA PRADESH
Introduction:
Lady Justice is a famous symbol that represents fairness, equality, and truth in the legal system. She is shown as a woman holding a sword, a balance (scale), and sometimes wearing a blindfold. In modern Indian statues, she often holds the Constitution book, which shows that all justice is based on the law of the land. The balance stands for fairness, the sword shows the power of law, and the book reminds us that every judgment must follow the Constitution. Lady Justice teaches that everyone should be treated equally, no matter who they are.
The idea of Lady Justice is very old – it started in ancient Greece and Rome. Around 100 CE (1st century), the Romans worshipped a goddess named Justitia, who became the symbol of justice.
The modern statues of Lady Justice, which we see today with the Constitution book instead of scales or blindfold, started appearing in India after independence, especially around 1950, when the Indian Constitution came into force.
At the Supreme Court of India: The new “Lady Justice” statue (without a blindfold, holding the Constitution) was officially unveiled on 16 October 2024.
History:
The history of Lady Justice goes back thousands of years. The idea of justice as a woman started in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
In Egypt, she was known as Goddess Ma’at, who stood for truth and fairness.
In Greece, she was called Themis and Dike, goddesses who showed law and moral order. In Rome, she was known as Justitia, the Goddess of Justice, and this is where the modern image of Lady Justice comes from.
Over time, artists showed her holding scales (to weigh truth and lies). a sword (for punishment and power of law), and a blindfold (to show that justice is equal for everyone). In modern times, especially in India, Lady Justice is often seen without the blindfold and holding the Constitution book. This shows that Indian justice is open-eyed (aware of truth and facts) and based on the Constitution of India, which is the supreme law of the country.
Previous (Old) Lady Justice:
- Earlier, Lady Justice was shown without a blindfold or sometimes with a blindfold.
- When she wore a blindfold, it meant that justice should be fair and equal — not based on a person’s money, power, or identity.
- She held a sword and a weighing scale — the sword showed punishment for the guilty, and the scale showed balance and fairness.
- In the old statues, she did not hold any book, because justice was mainly based on moral values and truth, not on written laws.
Modern Lady Justice:
- In modern times, especially in India, Lady Justice holds the Constitution book in her hand.
- The book represents that all justice is based on the Constitution and law, not on personal opinions.
- Most modern statues show her without a blindfold, meaning justice should be transparent and aware, not blind.
- The scale and sword are still there, showing fairness and punishment.
- This modern image connects justice with law, equality, and democracy.
Importance of Lady Justice:
Lady Justice is a symbol of fairness, equality, and truth. She reminds us that everyone is equal before the law, no matter who they are – rich or poor, powerful or weak. The scales she holds show that justice should be balanced and fair. The sword in her hand stands for the power of law and punishment for those who do wrong. In India, the modern Lady Justice also holds the Constitution book, which shows that all justice and laws come from our Constitution. She teaches us that justice should always be based on truth, honesty, and law – not on personal feelings or bias.
Why Lady Justice holds a book?
Lady Justice holds a book because it represents the law and the Constitution. In India, the book she holds is the Constitution of India, which is the highest law of our country. It shows that all decisions of justice should be based on the rules and rights written in the Constitution. The book reminds everyone – judges, lawyers, and citizens – that justice must always follow the law, not personal opinions or power.
Significance of Lady Justice
- Fairness and Equality:
Lady Justice shows that everyone should be treated equally under the law, without any discrimination.
- Law and Constitution:
The book in her hand represents the Constitution, meaning all justice should follow the rules and rights written in it.
- Power of Law:
The sword stands for the strength of law it punishes the guilty and protects the innocent.
- Unbiased Justice:
Earlier, she wore a blindfold to show that justice should be given without caring about who the person is -rich or poor, strong or weak.
- Truth and Honesty:
She reminds us that justice should always be based on truth, honesty, and moral values.
- Modern Indian Meaning:
In India, her open eyes and the Constitution book show that justice is transparent, aware, and guided by the supreme law of the land.
- Message to Society:
Lady Justice teach everyone to follow truth and fairness, helping to build a just and equal society.
