Yesterday, in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, CJI-designate Justice Sanjiv Khanna praised outgoing CJI D.Y. Chandrachud for his transformative leadership in enhancing access to justice and implementing data-driven reforms. Highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to societal betterment, Justice Khanna emphasized the importance of open prisons and addressing systemic justice barriers, aiming to continue Chandrachud’s legacy of inclusivity and progress in the judiciary.
New Delhi: In a distinguished event at Rashtrapati Bhavan Yesterday, CJI-designate Justice Sanjiv Khanna commended outgoing Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, for his transformative approach in enhancing access to justice and embracing data-driven reforms within the judiciary. Justice Khanna, who is set to take the oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India later this month, praised CJI Chandrachud’s impactful tenure, calling him “not only an erudite jurist but [someone who] equally understands the importance of information technology and data-driven reforms.”
This praise was part of an event where President Droupadi Murmu unveiled three key publications from the Supreme Court. These publications include Justice for the Nation: Reflections on 75 Years of the Supreme Court of India, Prisons in India: Mapping Prison Manuals and Measures for Reformation and Decongestion, and Legal Aid through Law Schools: A Report on the Working of Legal Aid Cells in India. Each publication focuses on critical areas of reform, such as improving prison conditions, expanding legal aid, and reflecting on the judiciary’s history—all underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to societal betterment.
Justice Khanna highlighted that CJI Chandrachud’s leadership has been “transformative” in making justice more accessible to individuals from all backgrounds, especially those from marginalized and rural areas. He noted how Chandrachud’s initiatives address issues of indirect discrimination, high costs, and delays in the legal process. These efforts, Justice Khanna remarked, embody a judiciary constantly reinventing itself to uphold democratic principles.
One of the event’s central themes was the concept of open prisons, which Justice Khanna recognized as a “progressive vision” for India’s overcrowded prison system. With approximately 5.2 lakh prisoners currently held in facilities that strain basic dignity and rehabilitation, open prisons represent a meaningful alternative. These institutions, of which India now has 91, aim to provide a more humane form of detention, offering benefits such as lower operational costs, reduced repeat offenses, and the restoration of human dignity.
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In his speech, Justice Khanna echoed President Murmu’s advocacy for the rights of the underserved, emphasizing that the judiciary under CJI Chandrachud has actively worked to mitigate systemic barriers to justice. The event celebrated the Supreme Court’s journey of “constant reinvention,” balancing the core tenets of democracy with technological progress, a legacy Justice Khanna aims to carry forward.
This ceremony was not just a tribute but a testament to the judiciary’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, technological integration, and ethical progress as it steps into the future.
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