Kapil Sibal calls for purposive interpretation of Constitution at law conclave

The true dispensation of justice lies in a purposive interpretation of the Constitution, attuned to the needs of society, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said at Justice Unplugged: Shaping the Future of Law, a conclave organised by the VIT School of Law, VIT Chennai, in association with The Hindu, in Delhi on Saturday (February 28, 2026). He was in conversation with N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group of Publications.

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“Constitutional morality ultimately is justice without fear or favour… True justice lies in the ability to rise above factional debates and interpret the Constitution in a manner that serves the larger community,” he said.

Earlier, delivering the welcome address, Suresh Nambath, Editor of The Hindu, said that societies — from ancient civilisations to modern nation-states — are anchored in the rule of law. In India, he said, the Constitution remains supreme and functions as a bulwark against social and structural inequalities.

“In India, the Constitution, and not Parliament, is supreme... the Constitution represents the voice of the people across generations”, he said.

At the inaugural session of the conclave, G. Vishwanathan, Founder and Chancellor of the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), described law as a vital instrument for the protection of the marginalised and said that lawyers render an essential service to society. He, however, underlined the pressing need for institutional reforms to address the mounting judicial backlog.

“India has the highest number of pending cases. As of January 2026, the total number of pending cases at all levels in India is 5.4 crore,” he said.

The conclave brought together senior advocates and scholars for wide-ranging conversations on the contemporary challenges confronting the profession. S. Muralidhar, senior advocate and former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, in a discussion with Krishnadas Rajagopal, legal correspondent, The Hindu, said it was becoming increasingly challenging to safeguard collective liberties and preserve constitutional rights. At the same time, he said that such periods of constitutional uncertainty demand a renewed and resolute commitment from the Bar to uphold constitutional values.

“For young lawyers, this is perhaps the most exciting time to be in law...The tougher it gets in terms of protection of liberties and upholding people’s law, the greater is the work of the lawyer, the better is the challenge of the lawyer,” he said.

Practitioners and academics also described AI as a powerful aid but one that requires rigorous human oversight. Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court, Neha Rathi said AI is “already acting as a great, efficient tool” in legal practice. From summarising lengthy briefs and generating concise points to assisting with translations, AI tools and specialised legal software are now routinely used by lawyers, particularly for urgent matters, Ms Rathi noted.