‘I have had my fair share of scrutiny’, says CJI Chandrachud; highlights judges’ criticism on social media

CJI terms ‘adjournment culture’ as one of the major issues; says the concept of access to justice should guarantee that citizens receive timely judgments from courts of law

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. PTI file

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, March 2

Highlighting the criticism faced by judges on social media, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday cautioned them against getting influenced by external pressure or public opinion.

Addressing the ‘All India District Judges Conference’ at Kachchh in Gujarat, the CJI described the influence of social media as a “contemporary challenge” posed by technology and said that even he had to face media scrutiny.

”In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in judges facing criticisms and commentary on social media platforms. And let me tell you, I have had my fair share of scrutiny too! Even if I say just a single word on the bench, it seems to get reported faster than a speeding bullet, the CJI said.

“But, should we, judges, be unduly affected by this? The role of a judge is to dispense justice impartially, without being swayed by external pressures or public opinions,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Terming “adjournment culture” as one of the major issues, the CJI said, it has far-reaching implications for the efficiency and integrity of the legal system and can effectively suspend time within a case, prolonging the agony of litigants and perpetuating the cycle of backlog.

“Imagine a victim of sexual assault whose case remains unresolved in the courts for several years. Isn’t this a clear violation of their fundamental right to access justice? The concept of access to justice should extend beyond mere access to the courts; it should also guarantee that citizens receive timely judgments from courts of law,” the CJI said.

He also flagged the apprehension about district courts increasingly becoming reluctant to entertain matters concerning personal liberty. “The longstanding principle that “bail is the rule, jail is the exception” seems to be losing ground, as evidenced by the growing number of cases reaching High Courts and the Supreme Court as appeals against the rejection of bail by trial courts. This trend warrants a thorough re-evaluation. I want to hear from our district judges why this trend is emerging across the country,” the CJI said.

“In today’s times, common citizens feel that adjournment has become a part of the judicial system. This perception is disheartening, as adjournments, which were never intended to be commonplace, have now become normalized within the judicial process. Judges therefore have to be conscious of this fact, because while even one adjournment might look like a routine affair, it can have severe ramifications for the litigants,” he said.

“Consider, for instance, the plight of a farmer entangled in a property dispute—a scenario all too common. Often, the outcome of the legal battle never comes to light during the farmer’s lifetime. Instead, the burden falls upon their legal heirs, who find themselves embroiled in protracted legal proceedings long after their loved one’s passing. We should not wait for our citizens to die for their case to be decided by a court of law,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Describing the district judiciary as “the backbone of our legal system”, the CJI praised the role played by judges working at the district level as “the first responder of the judicial domain.

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