Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, in a profound address, emphasized the role of the Supreme Court as a “people’s court” over the past seven decades, urging citizens not to fear approaching the courts. Speaking at the inauguration of the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, he highlighted the court’s role in resolving disagreements through established principles and processes, akin to how the Constitution allows for the resolution of political differences.
President Droupadi Murmu, who delivered the inaugural address at the event, was joined by notable attendees including Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. CJI Chandrachud’s speech underscored the Supreme Court’s commitment to justice, noting that thousands of citizens have approached it seeking protection of personal liberty, accountability against unlawful arrests, and prevention of social evils like manual scavenging.
“These cases are not just citations or statistics for the court. These cases resemble the expectations of people from the Supreme Court as well as the court’s own commitment to deliver justice to the citizens,”
Justice Chandrachud said. He stressed that the Supreme Court is perhaps the only court in the world where any citizen can initiate constitutional proceedings simply by writing to the CJI.
CJI Chandrachud also highlighted the Supreme Court’s efforts to make its administrative processes citizen-centric and the steps taken to address issues like overcrowding in prisons.
“Individuals should not be afraid of going to courts or view it as the last resort. Rather it is my hope that by our efforts, citizens of every class, caste, and creed can repose trust in our court system and view it as a fair and effective forum to enforce their rights,”
he stated.
The CJI pointed out the advancements in technology within the judiciary, including the live streaming of court proceedings and the translation of verdicts into regional languages using artificial intelligence and machine learning. As of November 25, 2023, the Supreme Court has delivered 36,068 judgments in English, with a significant number translated into Hindi and other Indian languages, available on the e-SCR platform.
Addressing the concern over prison overcrowding raised by the President on the previous Constitution Day, CJI Chandrachud assured continuous efforts to simplify legal processes to prevent unnecessary incarceration. He announced the launch of version 2.0 of the Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records (FASTER) application, ensuring timely release of incarcerated individuals.
CJI Chandrachud concluded by reflecting on the significance of Constitution Day, comparing India’s democratic success with other post-colonial nations.
“Celebration of Constitution Day symbolizes the social life of an independent nation,”
he remarked, highlighting the deep internalization of the Constitution by the people of India as a symbol of their aspirations.
