CJI Surya Kant said he wants to send a “strong message” that the Supreme Court belongs to the common man, promising predictable timelines and reduced litigation costs. He stressed mediation, judicial reforms, and greater access to justice for marginalised citizens.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Saturday that he wants to send a “strong message” that the Supreme Court belongs to the common man, and his top priority is to create a clear and predictable timeline for deciding cases.
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, the CJI said he wants a national judicial policy that helps ensure early decisions in long-pending matters so that justice becomes faster and affordable.
He explained that access to justice must become easier for everyone and said he is focusing on reducing the cost of litigation and setting reasonable timelines for how long cases should take.
Talking about the independence of the judiciary, CJI Kant referred to the Constitution’s principle of separation of powers and said the roles of the judiciary, legislature, and executive are clearly defined to avoid overlap.
The CJI said,
“My first priority will be a predictable timeline and a unified national judicial policy-based early decision of the pending cases. I am not saying elimination of all the arrears. That will never happen. That should not happen because litigation is an ongoing process. People have trust and faith in the judicial system.”
He added that old pending cases need immediate attention and suggested mediation as a major solution, saying it can be a “powerful game-changer”.
He also said that some important reforms will be introduced soon in the Supreme Court, including prioritising certain matters so that ordinary litigants also get proper space and time.
The CJI said,
“I just want to send a very clear and strong message that the Supreme Court is also meant for the common man, and any ordinary litigant will also have sufficient space and time in the Supreme Court. And for that, I am doing some prioritisation of the matters to be listed.”
He added that the other judges of the Supreme Court are supporting him in this effort.
CJI Surya Kant also said that new legal challenges—like digital arrests and cybercrimes—are increasing, and the judiciary must be updated to deal with them.
He said,
“So, new challenges will continue to come. First, we need to update our judiciary,” and added, “We must update our judicial officers with newer challenges and how to deal with those issues.”
He also spoke about better use of human resources in the judiciary and said that performance must be recognised fairly.
On the issue of diversity in the judiciary, he said India has changed socially and economically, and the judiciary is also changing along with it. According to him, efforts are being made to appoint judges from different regions and communities so that the court becomes more inclusive.
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The CJI said,
“And in that process, we have always kept in view that the persons having the background of marginalised communities, the women, they must get adequate and fair representation. And that inclusivity, that diversity, has really brought a very rich culture in the Supreme Court.”
Discussing judicial independence, he said that one must understand the basic constitutional philosophy behind it.
He said,
“The judiciary, the legislature and the executive… the Constitution has so beautifully defined their respective roles, ensuring that there is no overlapping. But at the same time, it is the beauty of our Constitution that a unique compatibility, a unique complementary relationship qua each other, is what our constitutional philosophy says.”
He further added that the Constitution clearly defines how all three organs depend on each other, stating it is “a machinery where all three organs work together, complement and supplement each other, maintaining their independent identity.”
CJI Kant highlighted that mediation has become a very effective and affordable method for resolving disputes and often results in a “win-win situation for both parties.”
He emphasised that true access to justice means ensuring people from vulnerable or marginalised communities receive high-quality legal aid.
He said,
“One of the challenges when we talk of access to justice is how to ensure that a person belonging to the vulnerable classes or the marginalised sections of society gets quality legal assistance in court.”
He added,
“Now, when I talk of access to justice, my first priority is to ensure how to reduce the cost of litigation and how to prescribe a reasonable timeline within which the matters are decided.”
The CJI said the judiciary has expanded free legal aid services, especially for the poor, and a nationwide programme has been launched to ensure competent lawyers provide quality legal help. He explained that district courts also need to be sensitised to ensure better timeline management.
CJI Surya Kant ended on an optimistic note, saying he believes India’s democracy and justice system have a bright future.
According to him,
“The reasons are very obvious. First, Indian people have absolute commitment to the constitutional principles. Second, Indian people are committed to the rule of law. And third, Indian people have commitment to democracy.”
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