Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud reaffirmed his vision for the Supreme Court, citing the need to maintain its role as a "people’s court."
Speaking at a conference of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association in Goa on Saturday, Chandrachud highlighted the reforms initiated since he assumed office in 2022, aimed at making the Supreme Court more accessible through technology and streamlined processes.
"Since I have become the Chief Justice of India, I have tried to make the Supreme Court a people's court," said Chandrachud.
He explained that changes like e-filing, online appearances, and simplifying daily tasks, such as getting court passes, were part of the transformation.
"The Supreme Court has tried to clean up old ways by using technology and making various processes easy," he added.
The Chief Justice made it clear that being a "people’s court" does not imply functioning as the opposition to the government.
"Now, being a people's court is not to say that we fulfil the role of the opposition in Parliament," he said.
He emphasised the importance of judicial independence, stating that the court's purpose is to uphold justice without being swayed by political or popular opinion.
Chandrachud warned against the prevailing tendency to support the court only when verdicts align with personal or political interests.
"There is this great divide between everybody who thinks that the Supreme Court is a wonderful institution when you decide in their favour, and it is an institution which is denigrated when you decide against them. I think that is a dangerous proposition," he remarked.
He also stressed that judicial decisions must be case-specific, with judges deciding independently and impartially.
"You cannot look at the role of the Supreme Court or its work from the perspective of the outcomes," Chandrachud said, urging a balanced view of the judiciary’s role in society.
Looking beyond his tenure, Chandrachud pointed to the importance of establishing long-term, sustainable systems within the judiciary, noting that progress must continue irrespective of individual leadership.
"The institution's long-term progress depends on systems that outlast individual players," he said, referencing the Advocate-on-Record (AoR) system, which plays a critical role in both judicial and administrative decisions.
The Chief Justice also called on senior advocates to ensure better pay for junior lawyers.
He cited a 2022 exercise where he calculated the living expenses of junior lawyers in Delhi, pointing out that the profession's future requires nurturing young talent.
Justice Chandrachud, who became the 50th Chief Justice of India on November 9, 2022, is set to retire on November 8, 2024, following a two-year tenure.
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