CJI Surya Kant says time has come for judiciary to work like hospitals 24x7
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If this actually happens, it would be a tremendously beneficial change for ordinary Indians. The biggest criticism of the Indian judiciary has always been the massive backlog of pending cases and the extremely slow pace of justice delivery. For many people, cases drag on for years or even decades, which defeats the whole purpose of timely justice.
Having said that, operating courts 24/7 is much easier said than done. The judiciary already faces a serious shortage of judges, and many sanctioned posts across High Courts and lower courts remain vacant. Before implementing such a system, those vacancies would need to be filled and the country would likely require a significantly larger judicial workforce to ensure judges are not overburdened or burnt out.
Technology and AI can definitely help in improving efficiency, case management, documentation, and reducing procedural delays. But technology alone cannot solve structural problems unless there are enough judges, better infrastructure, and administrative reforms to support it.
Nonetheless, this is still a very welcome statement coming from the CJI himself. It at least acknowledges that the current system is struggling and that reforms are urgently needed. Considering the judiciary is often criticized for its pendency, delays, and long vacations, hearing the CJI speak about faster and more accessible justice is definitely a positive sign.
Any other opinions on CJI's comments?