CJI Highlights Need for Inclusive Judiciary at HT Leadership Summit

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud spoke at the 21st Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2023, addressing the barriers to inclusivity within the legal system. He emphasized the importance of redefining “merit” to create a level playing field and enable more women to enter the judiciary. Justice Chandrachud also noted language barriers in the legal system, stating that English is not the language spoken by many and advocating for more accessibility.
During his speech, the CJI mentioned the positive impact of COVID-19 on women’s participation in the legal system, with more women arguing cases during video-conferencing. He highlighted efforts to create transparency in the judicial system, such as providing translations of judgments in regional languages and instant transcription of proceedings.
Justice Chandrachud mentioned the implementation of sign language interpreters and the preparation of handbooks addressing barriers faced by LGBTQI individuals and gender stereotypes against women in the judicial system.
Regarding the digitization of the legal system, he emphasized the importance of bringing courts closer to the people, reducing the cost of litigation, and enhancing access to justice. The CJI stated that the judiciary is in the process of digitizing the records of all courts, making legal processes more accessible to citizens.
He also discussed the retirement age of judges, highlighting the difference between the Indian model and the American Supreme Court, where judges do not have an age of retirement. Justice Chandrachud expressed the importance of judges retiring to pass on the mantle and acknowledge human fallibility.
In summary, the CJI’s speech at the summit focused on the need for inclusivity and accessibility in the legal system, advocating for redefining merit, addressing language barriers, and embracing technology to create a more citizen-centric judiciary.
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