Access to justice must deliver real outcomes for all: CJI Surya Kant | India News
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Saturday that access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered and must translate into real results for marginalized citizens.
Speaking at the 11th Biennial Meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJE), CJI Kant said judicial leadership cannot be limited to administrative authority or institutional hierarchy and must be understood as intellectual and ethical guidance.
“Access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered. It must translate into concrete results for the last person waiting, the marginalized citizen whose trust in the justice system rests on its accessibility, responsiveness and humanity,” the CJI said.
While emphasizing the integration of technology into the justice system, he said AI must assist, not replace, judicial reasoning.
CJI Kant said judicial leadership requires not only administrative foresight but also deep empathy, and that courts must be vigilant to ensure that procedural complexity does not turn into an obstacle for those in need of protection.
The CJI said the convergence of arbitration, mediation and specialized courts reflects a global transformation: from a litigation-centric paradigm to a justice-centric ecosystem.
“This transformation recognizes that justice must be accessible not only in principle but also in practice – timely, effective and responsive to the needs of litigants,” he said.
CJI Kant said that courts must continually earn public trust through clarity of reasoning, transparency and consistency.
“Judges must appreciate not only the doctrinal aspects of constitutional law, but also the philosophical foundations that give meaning to these doctrines. Comparative constitutional dialogue, historical study and ethical reflection are essential elements of this educational process,” he said.
He said courts must act as guardians of constitutional identity even as they adapt to changing realities.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, this responsibility also has an external dimension, involving sharing with global judicial communities,” he added.
The CJI called on Commonwealth judicial platforms to increasingly recognize jurisprudential contributions emanating from India and the wider Asian region, as this would strengthen shared learning and better reflect the Commonwealth’s collective commitment to accessible and people-centred justice.
