Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday said that the Indian judiciary must evolve to ensure that justice is delivered more efficiently, equitably, and with greater sensitivity to societal needs, emphasising that courts can no longer remain confined to physical spaces or traditional models of access.

Delivering the 4th Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture on the theme ‘Reimagining Justice: The Indian Judiciary 50 Years Hence’, the CJI said the conventional system, where citizens must physically approach courts, must gradually transform into one where justice “reaches people” in a timely and accessible manner. He stressed that access to justice should not depend on geography, financial capacity, or procedural complexity.

The CJI highlighted the need for a justice delivery system that is more responsive and integrated into everyday life. He said the judiciary’s long-term vision should focus on building a framework that becomes increasingly accessible, transparent, and aligned with the evolving needs of society over the next five decades. According to him, justice must be delivered in a manner that is efficient and equitable, while adapting to the realities of a changing world.

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Surya Kant also noted that the nature of disputes coming before courts is becoming increasingly complex, requiring judges to expand their understanding beyond traditional legal interpretation. He said future judges must not only interpret statutes and precedents but also engage with emerging fields and contemporary societal challenges to ensure effective adjudication.

The CJI further underlined that the shift towards a paperless and technology-driven judicial system is already underway, but said future reforms must go beyond mere digitisation of existing processes. He indicated that structural changes will be necessary to fully modernise the justice delivery system and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea seeking disability-sensitive guidelines in insurance schemes. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notices to the Centre and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), seeking their responses on directions to ensure welfare insurance policies for persons with disabilities comply with constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 21.

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