Is This Just About a Statue? The Bigger Battle Over Caste Identity and Justice in MP’s High Court

Gwalior: A 10-foot-tall statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, has become the center of a heated dispute at the Gwalior High Court, escalating beyond ideological differences into a volatile caste conflict. With Bahujan organizations like the Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party taking to the streets, the administration now faces a significant law-and-order challenge.

On February 19, 2025, then-Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait visited Gwalior, where advocates Vishwajeet Ratoniya, Dharamendra Kushwaha, and Rai Singh submitted a memorandum demanding the installation of Dr. Ambedkar’s statue on the High Court premises. The CJI gave oral approval, prompting the PWD to lay the foundation.

A group of lawyers later crowdfunded the statue, which now sits under heavy security at sculptor Prabhat Rai’s studio.

The Bar Association president and secretary alleged procedural violations, claiming the Building Committee was bypassed. On May 10, they planted the Tricolour on the foundation, arguing that court premises should remain "free of individual idols to uphold judicial impartiality."

Citing Supreme Court guidelines, Bar President Pawan Pathak stated, "Justice must bow only to the national flag, not any individual."

Caste Tensions Boil Over

On March 26, the Principal Registrar issued an order revealing a split committee vote: 3 members favored deferring the installation, while 2 supported it. Yet, the order conceded, "Since the statue is ready and paid for, it may be installed."

The debate has now morphed into a full-blown caste clash. The Bhim Army has called a "Bhimrao Agnipath Mahasabha" on June 29, while the Azad Samaj Party announced an "Ambedkar Mahapanchayat" on July 11.

Azad Samaj Party leader Rajinder Singh Bhati declared, "The statue will be installed as planned. Stopping it insults the Bahujan community."

The statue remains under round-the-clock guard, with 8 police officers (including a sub-inspector) and a dozen CCTV cameras monitoring Rai’s studio. Authorities have barred public access and preemptively banned protests, even turning away outside agitators at district borders.

Pro-statue advocates petitioned Gwalior MP Bharat Singh Kushwah on May 31, urging Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to intervene.

While SC guidelines discourage statues in court complexes to maintain neutrality, exceptions exist (e.g., Gandhi and Patel statues). Bahujan groups question: "If others are allowed, why not the Constitution’s architect?"

Bhim Army’s state chief Sunil Bairsia told The Mooknayak, "This isn’t just about a statue—it’s about justice, dignity, and identity. Those opposing it fear Ambedkar’s enduring legacy."

Advocate Dharamendra Kushwaha added, "Ambedkar inspired the nation, not just Dalits. His statue will enhance the judiciary’s prestige." He questioned why Gwalior’s bench alone rejects the statue when Supreme Court and Jabalpur High Court host Ambedkar’s likeness.

With tensions simmering, the standoff tests the balance between judicial decorum and social justice—a conflict far from resolution.