I’ve faced scrutiny, too; judges mustn’t be ruffled: CJI

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.

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“In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in judges facing criticism 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 pressure or public opinion,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Terming the “adjournment culture” as one of the major issues, the CJI said it had far-reaching implications for the efficiency and integrity of the legal system and could 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.