October 24, 2024: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has expressed strong discontent over recent alterations to the Supreme Court's emblem and the statue of 'Lady Justice', both of which were executed without prior consultation with the Bar. The SCBA passed a resolution condemning these unilateral changes, highlighting their status as equal stakeholders in the justice system.

The newly unveiled statue of Lady Justice has notably shed its traditional blindfold, replacing the sword it once held with the Constitution, symbolizing a shift away from punitive justice towards a more enlightened interpretation of law in India. This change is seen as an effort to distance the country from its colonial past and to emphasize that the law is not blind.

In their resolution, the SCBA stated, “It is observed by the Executive Committee that recently some radical changes have been brought in by the Supreme Court unilaterally... We are totally clueless on the rationale behind these changes.” The organization underscored that the scales, which previously represented balance and fairness, have been overshadowed by the new statue's open-eyed gaze, a departure from the traditional depiction.

Additionally, the SCBA voiced its opposition to plans for a museum in the former judges' library. The association had previously requested a café-cum-lounge to better serve its members, citing the inadequacy of the current cafeteria. “Now a museum has apparently been proposed... whereas we had demanded a Library, Cafe-cum-Lounge for the members of the Bar,” the resolution noted, expressing concerns over the progress of the museum despite their objections.