Chief Justice of India (CJI)-designate Justice Surya Kant, who is set to take the oath of office on Monday, November 24, has outlined his administrative and judicial roadmap, identifying the reduction of case pendency and the promotion of mediation as his top priorities. Justice Kant will succeed outgoing Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, who is demitting office on Sunday.
Appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu on October 30, Justice Kant’s tenure will span 15 months, concluding on February 9, 2027.
Tackling the “Scoreboard” of Pendency
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Justice Kant candidly addressed the mounting arrears in the Apex Court. He termed the backlog his “first and foremost challenge,” highlighting that the Supreme Court’s “scoreboard” currently reflects over 90,000 pending matters.
“My first and foremost challenge is arrears of cases. Today’s scoreboard shows that the Supreme Court arrears crossed 90,000. I am not going into how it happened, who is responsible… maybe listing (of cases) has gone up,” the CJI-designate stated.
To address this structural issue, Justice Kant indicated a multi-tiered approach involving the lower judiciary. He stated that reports would be sought regarding case pendency from High Courts as well as trial courts across the country.
Elaborating on his strategy to bring down numbers, Justice Kant emphasized the importance of grouping analogous matters. He cited a specific instance involving Delhi land acquisition matters where a single judgment effectively settled approximately 1,200 cases. Furthermore, he noted that High Courts would be consulted to identify pending matters that are contingent on decisions by larger Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court, necessitating the formation of such benches to unclog the system.
Mediation as a “Game Changer”
The CJI-designate identified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as his second major priority. He advocated for mediation as a viable and efficient method for resolving conflicts.
“Now the second issue is mediation. This is one of the easiest ways of dispute (re)solution and it can really be the game changer,” Justice Kant observed.
On “Unsocial Media” and Judicial Criticism
Addressing the growing concern regarding the online trolling of judges and scrutiny of court verdicts on social media platforms, Justice Kant maintained a firm stance on judicial independence. He remarked that judges of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice should remain unaffected by online commentary.
Terming social media as “unsocial media,” Justice Kant said, “Frankly speaking, I call social media ‘unsocial media’ and I do not feel pressured by online comments.” He added that throughout his tenure as a High Court and Supreme Court judge, he remained unperturbed by such external factors. However, he clarified that “fair criticism of judges and judgements is always acceptable.”
Personal Discipline Amidst Pollution
On a lighter note regarding his personal routine amidst the severe deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR, Justice Kant revealed his commitment to fitness. He stated that regardless of the weather conditions, he maintains his routine of a morning walk lasting between 50 minutes to one hour.
Justice Surya Kant will assume charge as the highest judicial authority in the country on Monday.
