Chief Justice of India Surya Kant called on lawyers to go beyond merely raising grievances and actively participate in the administrative functioning of courts. He said meaningful engagement by the Bar is essential to build trust, ensure workable reforms, and strengthen the justice delivery system.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Thursday urged lawyers to play a more active role in improving the justice delivery system by participating in its administrative functioning and not limiting themselves to merelyraising complaints.
The Chief Justice was speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), where he stressed the importance of cooperation between the Bar and the Bench in bringing meaningful reforms to the judicial system.
ALSO READ: “Technology Must Remain a Servant of Justice, Not Its Substitute”: CJI Surya Kant
He said that when judges and lawyers together take responsibility for administrative reforms, the justice system is more likely to gain public confidence, especially during periods of transition. According to him, a responsible and ethical Bar plays a crucial role in strengthening the administration of justice.
The Chief Justice said,
“A Bar that is prepared, ethical and conscious of its duties strengthens the administration of justice, and by encouraging such a Bar and acknowledging its strength, the foundation for the establishment is reinforced,”
Calling for a shift in approach, Justice Kant appealed to lawyers to move beyond criticism and actively contribute to improving court administration.
He added,
“The Bar must extend beyond the articulation of grievances to proactive engagement. It is here that I call upon the members of the Bar to engage wholeheartedly in the administration side of justice by offering practical suggestions, volunteering new systems and participating in consultative processes to ensure that reforms are not only well-intended, but are workable also,”
During the same event, DHCBA president and senior advocate N Hariharan highlighted several “deep institutional concerns” affecting the functioning of the Delhi High Court.
He pointed to issues such as lack of adequate physical infrastructure and what he described as the “diminishing elevation” of lawyers from the High Court to the Bench.
“Despite 47,000 advocates, only three have been elevated as judges since August 2024,”
Hariharan said, while clarifying that he was “not questioning any individual appointments” made to the High Court.
He also drew attention to the large number of vacancies in the Delhi High Court. With only 44 judges working against a sanctioned strength of 60, the court is currently facing a vacancy of around 27 per cent. Responding to these concerns, Chief Justice Kant assured that the system would take care of these issues at an appropriate stage.
Justice Kant also appreciated the role played by the DHCBA, describing it as having a “collaborative ethos”. He said such cooperation between lawyers and judges had helped in promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration and mediation.
Click Here to Read More Reports On CJI Surya Kant
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
