Ahead of taking oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant said social media trolls do not influence judges who decide only on facts and law. He reaffirmed his focus on reducing case pendency and strengthening mediation as a key reform tool.
NEW DELHI: Just two days before he takes oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant spoke openly about the growing influence of social media on the judiciary and his vision for reducing the massive backlog of cases in courts across the country.
In an informal interaction with the media, Justice Kant made it clear that online criticism and trolling do not affect his work.
He observed that many social media users try to twist court remarks or take them out of context to create a wrong and negative image of the judiciary, often without having any real understanding of the law or judicial process.
Expressing his firm stand, he said,
“I have never been pressured by the campaigns and motivated reporting on social media. I think an overwhelming majority of judges would not be affected by social media trolls as they decide cases based on facts and law.”
Speaking about his upcoming tenure, which will last for one year and three months, the CJI-designate highlighted that his main focus will be on tackling the serious issue of pendency of cases.
He said a structured strategy would be developed after consulting all stakeholders, including the judiciary, legal fraternity and administrative bodies, to deal with the backlog of nearly 90,000 cases in the Supreme Court and around 5 crore cases pending in High Courts and district courts across India.
Justice Kant also stressed that priority will be given to long-pending cases being heard by constitution benches, including those before 9-Judge, 7-Judge and 5-Judge benches.
These matters involve important constitutional and legal questions, and thousands of similar cases are currently stalled in various High Courts because they are waiting for clear rulings from the Supreme Court.
ALSO READ: India’s 53rd Chief Justice: Centre Approves Appointment of Justice Surya Kant As CJI
One major issue waiting before a 9-Judge bench is related to the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, as well as other religious and custom-based matters involving mosques and similar institutions.
He expressed concern over the fact that even though Supreme Court judges are disposing of almost the same number of cases that are being filed every year, the total pendency is still increasing.
According to him, this situation shows that the current system needs improvement and innovative solutions.
He also emphasised that judges should not be overburdened, whether at the level of the Supreme Court, High Courts or trial courts, as excessive workload can impact the quality and efficiency of justice delivery.
Highlighting the importance of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, Justice Kant described mediation as a powerful tool for the future of the Indian judicial system. He stated that mediation has the potential to significantly reduce case load and bring faster resolutions.
He pointed out that public sector banks and insurance companies have already shown interest in adopting mediation and are even requesting training for their staff so disputes can be resolved before they reach courts.
Underlining his commitment to this approach, he said,
“To use mediation to the fullest extent will be the focal point during my tenure as it is litigant-friendly and cost-effective.”
Justice Surya Kant’s statements clearly reflect a strong focus on judicial reform, efficiency and public trust, as he prepares to take charge of the country’s highest judicial office with the aim of making justice more accessible, faster and more effective for the common citizen.
Click Here To Read More Reports on Surya Kant
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
