Major Initiative to Promote Humble, Service-Oriented and Citizen-Centric Conduct among Public Servants and Judges across Government Institutions, Schools, Colleges and Universities
Nationwide Effort to Teach Public Officials, Police, Administrators and Judges How to Engage with Citizens with Dignity and Respect
“The initiative aims to instil constitutional values, humility, a spirit of public service, and respectful, dignified engagement with citizens, litigants, and advocates among present and future public servants.”
Mumbai / New Delhi: In a significant development aimed at strengthening ethical governance and standards of public service, the State Government’s Law Department has forwarded a representation received from the Indian Bar Association (IBA) to the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court for appropriate action and implementation of its recommendations.
The communication, sent by the Additional Secretary of the Law Department, is based on a detailed representation submitted by Adv. Nilesh Ojha, National President of the Indian Bar Association. The representation calls for nationwide institutional adoption of a historic reply letter written by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, to a young advocate.
Background: Legal Community Applauds CJI’s Humble Reply
The initiative originates from a response sent by the Chief Justice of India to a young advocate, Adv. Shivam Gupta, who had recently completed his law degree. The letter was widely praised across legal circles for its humility, sensitivity, and respectful tone, and was regarded as a model of conduct expected from constitutional authorities and public servants.
Many members of the legal fraternity observed that the humility and respect shown by the CJI—occupying the highest constitutional judicial office—are rare in contemporary times. In a democratic nation like India, where the citizen is paramount, such citizen-centric and service-oriented conduct by public officials is considered consistent with constitutional values and deserving of broad dissemination.
In the reply conveyed through the Supreme Court Registry, the CJI expressed gratitude and emphasized that every judicial decision carries “the hopes of a nation that seeks fairness, equality, and justice.” He further underscored that the true strength of the Constitution lies in its people and in their collective commitment to justice.
IBA’s Appeal for Nationwide Adoption
Highlighting the profound ethical, constitutional, and citizen-centric message embodied in the letter, Adv. Nilesh Ojha addressed representations to the President of India, the Prime Minister, and Chief Ministers of all States, urging formal incorporation of the CJI’s message into public governance training across the country.
The proposal recommends inclusion not only in the training programmes of judicial, administrative, and police institutions but also in the academic curricula of schools, colleges, and universities nationwide.
According to the representation, the initiative is designed to cultivate constitutional values, humility, ethical responsibility, and a service-oriented outlook among present and future public servants. It also emphasizes the need for respectful, humane, and dignified engagement with citizens, litigants, and members of the Bar.
The IBA stated that widespread dissemination of the principles reflected in the CJI’s letter would strengthen public confidence in institutions, enhance accountability and sensitivity in governance, and foster a culture of dignity, fairness, and constitutional fidelity in public life.
Implementation through Training, Education and Public Outreach
The forwarding note from the State Law Ministry outlines structured institutional adoption of the CJI’s message through multiple channels, including:
- Training programmes for all public servants, including judicial, administrative, and police officers
• Inclusion in foundation and refresher courses conducted by government training academies
• Integration into school, college, and university curricula relating to civics, law, governance, and ethics
• Wider dissemination through government institutions and public discourse platforms
The note further requests the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court to examine the proposal from legal and administrative perspectives, take appropriate steps in accordance with law, and inform the Indian Bar Association of the action taken.
