Courts must combine world-class infra with accessible justice: CJI

As the judiciary expands its physical and digital footprint through projects such as the upcoming Tower of Justice in Gurugram, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has outlined a broader vision of judicial reform — one in which world-class infrastructure, technology and constitutional values converge to make justice more accessible, efficient and humane.

In an interaction ahead of the inauguration, the CJI said modern judicial infrastructure and access to justice were not competing priorities, but complementary pillars of an effective justice delivery system.

“A court building has meaning when it helps reduce the distance between the citizen and justice. Infrastructure is essential because it creates the conditions for efficient functioning, better case management and dignified access to courts. At the same time, the real test is whether the ordinary litigant feels heard, respected and treated with fairness.”

Justice Surya Kant said the objective of judicial modernisation extended well beyond creating world-class court complexes or introducing cutting-edge technology. According to him, every reform initiative must ultimately strengthen public confidence in the justice delivery system and reinforce the constitutional promise that justice remains accessible to every citizen.

The CJI said investments in modern court complexes, digital facilities, integrated record-management systems and technology-enabled processes could significantly enhance the judiciary’s ability to deliver timely and effective justice. At the same time, he maintained that infrastructure derived its true value only when it improved the experience of litigants and enabled judges and court staff to function more efficiently.

Speaking about the judiciary’s continuing digital transformation, Justice Surya Kant said technology should not be viewed merely as an administrative convenience.

“Technology has become a constitutional instrument. It can improve transparency, accessibility and efficiency, but it cannot replace judicial conscience. The responsibility of ensuring fairness will always remain with human judges.”

He said technology and artificial intelligence had the potential to substantially augment judicial administration by improving efficiency, transparency and accessibility. However, he emphasised that the legitimacy of the justice delivery system would always rest on human judgement, constitutional conscience and the confidence reposed by citizens in the courts.

Referring to the judiciary’s ongoing digital transformation, the CJI said initiatives under the e-Courts programme—including electronic filing, virtual hearings, digital records and technology-enabled case management—were intended to make courts more accessible and efficient without diluting the human element of adjudication.

Justice Surya Kant also linked judicial reform with the broader constitutional guarantee of equality before the law. He said the objective was not merely to improve disposal rates, but to ensure that financial, social or procedural disadvantages never became obstacles to justice.

“No citizen should feel that justice is beyond reach because of financial, social or procedural barriers. The legal system must be approachable, compassionate and inclusive.”