CJI Surya Kant sets reform priorities for judiciary

New Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has laid out a wide-ranging roadmap for his 15-month tenure, placing strong emphasis on merit, integrity and judicial temperament in appointments, while prioritising the reduction of pendency, strengthening mediation, and safeguarding judicial independence from all forms of pressure.

Assuming office on November 24, Justice Kant signalled continuity with institutional traditions while underlining targeted reforms aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and public trust in the justice delivery system.

Holistic judicial intervention against social crises

Drawing from his long tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Kant highlighted the judiciary’s sustained intervention in tackling Punjab’s drug menace, describing it as one of the most demanding judicial exercises of his career.

The crisis, he noted, could not be resolved through isolated orders but required continuous monitoring, coordination with authorities and engagement with affected families.

Under court supervision, measures ranged from criminal investigations and extradition of key offenders to border strengthening, de-addiction and rehabilitation infrastructure, and mandatory awareness programmes in educational institutions.

The approach, he said, combined punitive, preventive, rehabilitative and educational strategies to address the problem comprehensively.

‘Master of roster’ role often misunderstood

Addressing criticism surrounding the Chief Justice’s role as the “master of the roster”, Justice Kant clarified that roster allocation is an administrative responsibility linked to seniority and institutional functioning, not unilateral authority. He emphasized that such decisions are taken through consultation, factoring in judges’ expertise, availability and the court’s overall workload.

Judicial independence beyond executive influence

Justice Kant reaffirmed that judicial independence extends beyond freedom from executive interference to insulation from pressure groups and public opinion campaigns. Accountability, he stressed, is owed solely to the Constitution and the people it serves.

Pendency, mediation and access to justice

Reducing case backlogs remains a central priority of his tenure. Justice Kant underscored the need to streamline existing systems and strengthen mediation as a preferred dispute resolution mechanism, while ensuring that every citizen has meaningful access to justice and competent legal representation.

Social media backlash must not distract courts

On the growing scrutiny of judicial remarks on social media, Justice Kant cautioned against reacting to fragmented or contextless viral clips from court proceedings. He observed that judges routinely test arguments through hypotheticals and probing questions, which are often misconstrued when shared in isolation. Trolling, he said, must be ignored to prevent erosion of judicial focus and institutional responsibility.

Bail jurisprudence remains fact-specific

Reiterating that “bail is the rule and jail the exception” remains a foundational principle; Justice Kant noted that its application depends on the facts, gravity and circumstances of each case, accounting for variations in judicial outcomes across courts.

Collegium reforms and transparency in appointments

Defending the Collegium system, Justice Kant acknowledged the need for continuous improvement. He welcomed reforms such as in-person interactions with candidates, describing them as critical for objective assessment. Going forward, appointments to the High Courts and the Supreme Court will place decisive weight on merit, experience, integrity and judicial temperament.

While recognising demands for greater transparency following the scrapping of the National Judicial Appointments Commission, he pointed out that the Collegium has begun recording reasons for approvals and rejections. At the same time, he cautioned that complete disclosure is neither feasible nor desirable, given the sensitive and complex nature of the process.

Expert-driven adjudication in complex fields

On courts dealing with technically complex areas such as taxation and environmental law, Justice Kant stressed reliance on in-house judicial expertise supplemented by domain experts and expert committees where necessary. Particularly in environmental cases, scientific inputs are essential to ensure decisions protect fragile ecosystems without unintended harm.

Overall, Justice Surya Kant’s tenure is set to focus on calibrated reform—strengthening institutional processes while preserving judicial independence and constitutional values at the core of India’s justice system.