India's Justice System Needs a Compassionate Overhaul: CJI-Designate Surya Kant's Vision
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India's Chief Justice-designate Surya Kant has called for a radical overhaul of the country's justice system, emphasizing the need for speed, clarity, and compassion in delivering justice to all. Speaking at a national conference to mark Legal Services Day, Justice Kant stressed that technology alone cannot bridge the gap in access to justice unless it is rooted in local knowledge, linguistic accessibility, and human empathy. To make justice more accessible, Justice Kant advocated for administrative reforms and humane practices. He highlighted the importance of remote clinics, online conciliations, and digital complaint portals, but emphasized that they must be guided by human understanding. The Chief Justice-designate pointed out that the significance of legal aid lies in converting constitutional promises into practical relief for the marginalized and the poor. He credited the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, with creating a nationwide institutional network to ensure that economic barriers do not shut people out of justice. According to Justice Kant, millions of people have benefited from NALSA's work, including millions who have been spared prolonged litigation, lakhs who have secured free legal representation, and thousands who have resolved disputes through mediation. However, he cautioned that strengthening legal aid is not solely an institutional task, but requires shared ownership from judges, lawyers, legal educators, law students, para-legal volunteers, community groups, and civil society. Justice Kant called for a renewed commitment to making the justice system more pragmatic, dignified, and people-centric. He emphasized that the measure of a legal system should not be how swiftly it resolves complex disputes, but how deeply it touches the lives of ordinary people. By building simpler, more humane, and accessible systems, India can uphold the Constitution and fulfill its noblest promise of justice for all.
