Independent India’s longest-serving and most distinguished Law Ministers, namely Dr BR Ambedkar, Ashoke Kumar Sen and HR Bhardwaj, spanned different eras of the Republic, yet their contributions remain deeply intertwined by a shared pursuit of justice, equality, and constitutional integrity. Each, in his own way, strengthened India’s democratic edifice, transforming the law from a colonial instrument of control into a moral force for liberation and inclusion. In an era of erosion of institutional credibility, the legends legacy contribution can set in an example for the current decision makers to guide the current fragile legal institutions in the country.
Dr BR Ambedkar: The Visionary Reformer and Architect of Equality
India’s first law minister, Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, revered as the Architect of the Indian Constitution, transformed India’s social and legal consciousness by embedding equality and justice at its core. Born into a Dalit family, Ambedkar’s life was a living testament to resilience and reform.
His famous words, “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved”, reflected his unwavering belief in gender and social equity.
As India’s Law Minister, Ambedkar laid the foundation for affirmative action, social justice and fundamental rights through constitutional provisions that outlawed untouchability and discrimination. His push for the Hindu Code Bill was revolutionary seeking to grant women equal rights in inheritance, marriage and property at a time when patriarchal orthodoxy resisted reform.
Though he faced political opposition, his moral conviction never wavered. Ambedkar believed law was a tool of transformation, not mere regulation, a belief that continues to inspire India’s march toward equality.
Ashoke Kumar Sen: The Defender of Democratic Ideals
Ashoke Kumar Sen, one of India’s longest-serving Law Ministers, an extraordinarily brilliant lawyer and an erudite parliamentarian, brought gravitas and moderation to Indian lawmaking. A distinguished lawyer and intellectual, Sen was known for his articulate advocacy and moral courage during politically turbulent decades. He often said, “The law must be the shield of liberty, not the weapon of power.”
Serving under multiple prime ministers, Sen guided the Ministry of Law through some of India’s most testing times including the post-Emergency years when the sanctity of the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary were under scrutiny. He strengthened legal institutions, championed judicial autonomy and expanded legal aid for the underprivileged. His vision of a judiciary accessible to all citizens laid the foundation for the Legal Services Authorities Act and reforms in legal education. Sen’s statesmanship and devotion to constitutional ethics made him a guardian of democratic continuity amid crisis.
HR Bhardwaj: The Pragmatic Moderniser
Hans Raj Bhardwaj, one of India’s longest-serving Law Ministers in the early 2000s, carried forward the legacy of Ambedkar by adapting legal reform to a rapidly globalising and digitising world. Known for his forthrightness and administrative acumen, Bhardwaj often remarked, “Justice delayed is justice denied, and delay is a denial of democracy itself.”
During his tenure, he prioritised judicial reforms, advocating for faster case disposal, electronic filing and computerisation of courts. Bhardwaj also championed legal literacy and access to justice for marginalised citizens, expanding the scope of Lok Adalats and Legal Aid Services. His push to modernise legal processes reflected his belief that technology must serve the cause of justice, not merely efficiency. Bhardwaj’s tenure represented a bridge between traditional legal thought and a future-oriented judicial system that embraces innovation without compromising integrity.
He was the backbone of the various Congress Governments for over three decades, brought executive and judicial conflict to almost negligible levels and he was credited for upgrading the salary and perks of the Judges to a respectable level to deliver fearless and equitable justice.
A Unified Legacy to in-spite equitable Justice, Reform and Modernisation
Though separated by time, Ambedkar, Sen and Bhardwaj shared a profound moral compass: the belief that the law must serve humanity. Their combined legacy, social emancipation, judicial independence and modernisation form the spine of India’s democratic jurisprudence.
As India enters a new era of governance and technology, the Law Ministry must now champion the integration of Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to accelerate justice delivery. From e-courts to predictive case analytics, technology can drastically reduce pendency, promote transparency and democratise legal access, transforming Ambedkar’s dream of equality before law into a 21st-century reality.
Such reform would do more than merely modernise the judiciary — it would fulfil the vision of those who saw in the law not a privilege for the few, but a promise to the many. In the spirit of Dr BR Ambedkar’s integrity, Ashok Sen’s intellect, and HR Bhardwaj’s innovation, India’s justice system must evolve to become fairer, faster and truly accessible to all.
Today, while India strides confidently toward its ambition of becoming a global superpower, its legal system is buckling under its own weight. As economist Sanjeev Sanyal recently observed, “the judicial system is the biggest hurdle to the Viksit Bharat mission.” It is imperative, therefore, that both the Government and the judiciary undertake bold, urgent and comprehensive reforms to restore faith and sanity in the lives of ordinary citizens. In doing so, they may well draw inspiration from the enduring legacies of our legal luminaries, Ambedkar, Sen and Bhardwaj, who envisioned justice not as an ornament of governance, but as its very foundation.
