Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud emphasised the pivotal role of the Supreme Court as a “people’s court,” urging citizens not to harbour fear in accessing courts or perceive them solely as a final recourse. Justice Chandrachud underscored the significance of the court system in resolving disputes through established principles and processes, akin to how the Constitution facilitates the resolution of political differences through democratic institutions.
“Through this approach, each case presented in any court across the nation becomes an integral part of upholding constitutional governance,” CJI stated during his address at the inauguration of the Constitution Day celebrations at the apex court on Sunday.
President Droupadi Murmu delivered the inaugural address at the programme, which was also attended by apex court judges Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and others.In his speech, the CJI highlighted the pivotal role of the Supreme Court as a “people’s court” over the last seven decades. He emphasised that thousands of citizens have placed their faith in this institution, seeking justice and resolution to myriad of concerns.
Citizens approach the court seeking safeguarding of personal liberty, redress against wrongful arrests, protection of labourers’ rights, preservation of tribal lands, eradication of social malaises like manual scavenging, and even for interventions ensuring clean air, stated Justice Chandrachud.
He stressed that these cases aren’t merely references or statistics for the court; instead, they epitomise the aspirations of the people from the Supreme Court and the court’s own commitment to delivering justice.
Notably, the CJI highlighted the unique feature of the Supreme Court, where any citizen can set the constitutional machinery in motion by writing directly to the CJI.
Additionally, he mentioned the court’s endeavours to ensure its administrative processes are citizen-centric, fostering a stronger connection between people and the functioning of the courts.
The CJI reiterated that citizens should not fear accessing courts as a last resort. Instead, he expressed hope that efforts from the judiciary would build trust among citizens of all backgrounds, encouraging them to view the court system as a fair and effective platform to uphold their rights.
Moreover, Justice Chandrachud drew parallels between the Constitution’s role in resolving political differences and the courts’ function in addressing various disputes through established principles and processes.
He highlighted the court’s initiatives, such as live streaming proceedings, translating verdicts into regional languages using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, and providing judgments for free on the e-SCR platform. Specifically, he announced the launch of the e-SCR in Hindi, containing translated judgments, and indicated ongoing efforts to translate judgments into other Indian languages.
Discussing technology’s role, he stressed that it should bring the judiciary closer to citizens and not create distance, aiming to embrace citizens as equal partners in the nation’s collective progress.
Addressing concerns raised by the President regarding prison overcrowding and the incarceration of marginalised individuals, the CJI assured ongoing efforts to simplify legal processes to prevent unnecessary detention. He announced the launch of version 2.0 of the FASTER application, ensuring the swift transmission of judicial release orders to relevant authorities for prompt release.
Lastly, he revealed the Supreme Court’s intent to improve prison conditions and update outdated prison manuals through a project proposed by the Centre for Research and Planning of the Supreme Court.
