Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday underscored that access to justice must move beyond a theoretical promise and produce tangible results for marginalised citizens, stressing that the legitimacy of the justice system depends on its accessibility, responsiveness and humane functioning.
Delivering the keynote address at the 11th biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators, the CJI said that judicial leadership cannot be reduced to administrative control or institutional hierarchy but must be rooted in intellectual depth and ethical commitment.
“Access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered. It must translate into real outcomes for the last person standing in the line, the marginalised citizen whose faith in the justice system rests upon its accessibility, responsiveness and humanity,” he said.
The CJI observed that judicial leadership requires not only administrative foresight but also deep empathy, cautioning that procedural complexity should not become a barrier for those seeking protection of the law. He emphasised that courts must remain vigilant to ensure that processes designed to deliver justice do not end up excluding vulnerable groups.
He further noted that public trust in the judiciary must be continuously earned through clarity of reasoning, transparency and consistency in decision-making.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in the justice system, Justice Kant said artificial intelligence should function as a supportive tool and not replace judicial reasoning. He described the integration of technology as essential for improving efficiency and accessibility while preserving the human element in adjudication.
Pointing to the increasing use of arbitration, mediation and specialised courts, the CJI said the justice system is undergoing a structural shift from a litigation-centric model to a justice-centric ecosystem that prioritises timely, efficient and responsive outcomes for litigants.
“This transformation acknowledges that justice must be accessible not only in principle but in practice — timely, efficient and responsive to the needs of litigants,” he said.
The CJI stressed that judges must engage not only with doctrinal aspects of constitutional law but also with its philosophical foundations through comparative constitutional dialogue, historical study and ethical reflection.
He said courts must act as guardians of constitutional identity while adapting to changing social realities, and highlighted the importance of global judicial engagement.
Justice Kant also called upon Commonwealth judicial platforms to recognise jurisprudential contributions from India and the wider Asian region, stating that such recognition would strengthen shared learning and advance the goal of people-centred justice across jurisdictions.
