THE All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) has strongly condemned the ongoing opposition to the proposed installation of a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar within the premises of the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, calling it a "dubious attempt to bring back Manusmriti and Manuvadi ideology through the back door."

In a statement issued on June 2, the AILU noted that Dr. Ambedkar is not only the principal architect of the Indian Constitution but also a towering figure in the fight against caste oppression and social inequality. "The Constitution is not merely the basic law of the land, but a weapon for democratisation of society and dismantling of the Chaturvarnya system," the statement said.

The union expressed concern that a section of the legal fraternity in Gwalior and other parts of the country is aligning itself with regressive and casteist forces, which have historically been at odds with the egalitarian ethos enshrined in the Constitution. "It is unfortunate that certain legal professionals are opposing the installation of Ambedkar’s statue, thereby acting against the spirit of the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold," the AILU added.

Reiterating its demand, the AILU called upon the legal community to support and facilitate the installation of the statue without delay. "There should be no legal or moral hurdle in honouring Dr. Ambedkar, under whose visionary leadership the Constitution – the foundation of our judiciary – was framed," it said.

The AILU also urged the Chief Justice of India to intervene in the matter and ensure that the installation proceeds as planned. "We earnestly hope and believe that the Chief Justice will overrule these baseless and prejudiced objections, and help uphold the constitutional values Dr. Ambedkar stood for," the statement concluded.