Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud cautioned against the perception of courts as temples of justice and judges as deities during his address at the East Zone-II Regional Conference of the National Judicial Academy in Kolkata on Saturday.
He pointed out the importance of judges viewing themselves as servants of the people, rather than exalted figures.
"Too very often, we are addressed as Honour or as Lordship or as Ladyship. There is a very grave danger when people say that the court is a temple of justice. It is a grave danger that we perceive ourselves as the deities in those temples," observed CJI Chandrachud.
He stressed that this mindset is perilous and must be avoided.
The CJI proposed a shift in perspective, advocating for judges to be seen as individuals who serve the public.
"I would rather recast the role of the judge as a server of the people. And when you regard yourselves as people who are there to serve others, then you bring in the notion of compassion, of empathy, of judging but not being judgmental about others," he added.
CJI Chandrachud further cited the need for compassion in judicial proceedings, especially when sentencing in criminal cases.
"Even while sentencing anyone in a criminal case, judges do so with a sense of compassion, as in the end, it is a human being who is sentenced," he said.
Highlighting the importance of constitutional morality, the CJI stressed the values of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance.
"These concepts of Constitutional morality… are the key, not just for the judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court but also for the district judiciary itself because the engagement of the common citizens begins first and foremost with the district judiciary," he stated.
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