Chief Justice Surya Kant said true judicial leadership grows through honesty, self-reflection, and humility, not pretended perfection, urging judges to embrace learning and reform. Speaking at meeting of Commonwealth Judicial Educators, he proposed Body to unite bench and educators.
NEW DELHI: Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the effectiveness of judicial leadership is not diminished by the imperfections of judges, but rather by the pretense of flawlessness. He advocated for a transformative approach to how judicial leadership is viewed, proposing the establishment of a ‘Commonwealth Apex Body’ to unify judicial education, the Bar, and the bench across Commonwealth nations.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 11th biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJEs), Justice Surya Kant asserted that both judges and judicial institutions are capable of growth, correction, and improvement.
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He highlighted that the role of judges requires not only a “mastery of precedent” but also the “agility to interpret the law” in ways that promote justice in contemporary context. Throughout history, the most esteemed judicial leaders did not present themselves as infallible; instead, the most effective leaders were those aware of their own knowledge limits, conscious of potential errors, and willing to learn.
He stressed,
“Humility, in that sense, has never been a personal virtue alone; it has been a professional safeguard. And I believe this important tool must be taught to every judicial officer, without exception,”
Discussing the event’s theme, ‘Educating for Judicial Leadership,’ Justice Surya Kant termed it “timely” as the dominant belief has long been that judges are finished products who emerge from appointments as complete beings.
The CJI stated,
“In my opinion, while that view flatters the institution, it does not serve it. Judicial leadership does not suffer because judges are imperfect; it suffers when we pretend they are not,”
He further noted that a “more honest premise” needs to be embraced for educating judicial leadership: judges, akin to the institutions they steer, are always capable of growth, correction, and improvement.
He said,
“This is where, I believe, the Commonwealth Judicial Educators step in. CJEs are the quiet architects behind transformative journeys.”
He explained that the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI) nurtures judges to become more than just interpreters of law, shaping them into wise guardians of justice, prepared to face the moral and technical challenges in an ever-evolving world.
The chief justice remarked that law is a living entity that develops alongside societal changes, and judges’ understanding is tested when new challenges arise and complex questions emerge.
He said,
“In such a dynamic landscape, our role as judges demands not only mastery of precedent but also the agility to interpret the law in ways that serve justice in our times.”
He concluded by emphasizing that learning from one another ensures decisions are informed not just by the law but also by the collective wisdom of the global judiciary.
He added,
“Mutual learning is, thus, the lifeblood of judicial growth,”
Justice Surya Kant praised the CJEI for fostering connections among judicial educators, promoting peer learning, and enabling jurisdictions to share knowledge while respecting their unique contexts.