Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Friday said that judicial leadership is not weakened by the imperfections of judges, but is adversely affected when judges project themselves as flawless. He emphasised that humility is a professional safeguard and must be inculcated in every judicial officer.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 11th Biennial Meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJEs), the CJI called for a fundamental shift in how judicial leadership is perceived and proposed the creation of a “Commonwealth Apex Body” to integrate judicial education, the Bar and the Bench across member nations.
Justice Surya Kant rejected the long-held perception that judges are “finished products” upon appointment. He said:
“Judicial leadership does not suffer because judges are imperfect; it suffers when we pretend they are not.”
He stressed that judges, like judicial institutions, remain capable of growth, correction and improvement, and that acknowledging the limits of one’s knowledge is essential to sound judicial functioning.
The CJI observed that the most respected judicial leaders historically were those who remained conscious of their fallibility and open to learning. He stated:
“Humility, in that sense, has never been a personal virtue alone; it has been a professional safeguard. And I believe this important tool must be taught to every judicial officer, without exception.”
Highlighting the evolving nature of law, Justice Surya Kant said that the role of judges demands not only “mastery of precedent” but also the agility to interpret the law in ways that serve justice in contemporary society. He described law as a “living, breathing entity” that must respond to social change and emerging complexities.
Referring to the theme “Educating for Judicial Leadership”, the CJI termed it timely and said that the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI) plays a vital role in shaping judges into “wise custodians of justice” capable of addressing both moral and technical challenges.
He noted that mutual learning among jurisdictions enables decisions to be informed not only by domestic law but also by the collective wisdom of the global judiciary, calling such exchange the “lifeblood of judicial growth.”
Justice Surya Kant advocated the establishment of a Commonwealth Apex Body to bring together judicial education, the Bar and the Bench across member countries, with a view to strengthening institutional capacity and leadership development.
He also appreciated the CJEI for fostering peer learning and enabling jurisdictions to learn from one another while preserving their distinct legal contexts.
