Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud emphasized judges’ commitment to their work, stating they are “not gallivanting or goofing up even in vacation.” He addressed the challenges of increasing workloads and discussed the Collegium system, urging maturity in understanding its strengths and the impact of social media on the judiciary.
Mumbai: Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has emphasized the deep commitment of judges to their work, stating that they are “not gallivanting or goofing up even in vacation.” Speaking at the inaugural Loksatta Annual Lecture in Mumbai, he highlighted the increasing workload and complexity that judges face as they advance in the judiciary.
The Chief Justice noted that judges often lack sufficient time to think or read about the law due to the “pendency of cases across lower courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court,” which runs into crores. He attributed this to the lack of an adequate number of judges and infrastructure issues.
Addressing the Collegium System
Chandrachud also spoke about the Collegium system, stating that every institution can be improved, but this should not imply that there is something fundamentally wrong with it. He described the Collegium as a federal system where responsibility is shared among various levels of government, both the Centre and the states, as well as the judiciary.
“It is a process of consultative dialogue, where consensus emerges, but at times there is no consensus, but that’s part of the system,”
he remarked. The Chief Justice emphasized the need for maturity in understanding the strengths of this system, noting that
“the fact that these institutions have stood the test of time for over the last 75 years is a reason for us to trust our system of democratic governance.”
The Impact of Social Media
On the topic of social media, Chandrachud acknowledged its impact on the judiciary, stating,
“The whole universe of judging… has undergone changes due to social media.”
He asserted that while judges must exercise caution in their communications, the advent of social media is ultimately beneficial, allowing users to reach a “huge section of society.”
As Chief Justice DY Chandrachud prepares to retire on November 10, his reflections on the judiciary’s role and the challenges it faces underscore the need for continued dialogue and reform in the Indian legal system. Justice Sanjiv Khanna will succeed him in this pivotal role.
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