Today we stand in the shadow of our unfulfilled potential, having failed our fellow citizens. Our path still intersects with mounting backlogs, dwindling integrity, and a lack of justice. The once-revered Indian judiciary, hailed as a guardian of rights and justice, now stands at a crossroads
From the perspective of a legal practitioner, my aspirations have always centered around witnessing relief spread across the weary faces of litigants burdened by unresolved cases that stretch on for months, years, and even generations. However, as a nation today, we have fallen short in our responsibility towards our fellow citizens. Our trajectory remains entwined with growing backlogs, fading integrity, and a discouraging absence of justice. The once revered Indian judiciary, celebrated as a fortress of rights and justice, now stands at a crossroads. What was once a source of pride has been besieged by challenges, painting a disheartening narrative of promises unmet and justice postponed.
At the heart of this crisis looms an overwhelming backlog of cases that has flooded our courts like an insurmountable tide. The staggering number of over 4.7 crore pending cases paints a grim picture where the adage “justice delayed is justice denied” holds painfully true with startling 1,82,000 cases left languishing unresolved for more than three decades.
Compounding this crisis is the distressing judge-to-population ratio, corroding the very essence of justice. The stark contrast between the recommended 50 judges per million people to the actual number of around 21 judges per million underscores the systemic apathy that has led to this dire situation.
The repercussions of this judicial inertia extend beyond the courtroom walls. Confidence in the system, a cornerstone of a thriving democracy, erodes as citizens not only witness their fundamental rights but also their basic entitlements getting ensnared in courts, endlessly postponed. This cycle of injustice breeds disillusionment and frustration, dimming the prospects for fair and timely resolutions.
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In an effort to tackle these challenges, the infusion of artificial intelligence, SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) into the judicial realm is meant to alleviate the backlog and improve the effectiveness of justice delivery. However, I firmly believe that the use of AI should be confined to research and navigating extensive documentation, rather than reaching a point where technology replaces the human aspects of justice – empathy, compassion, and wisdom.
Nevertheless, an opportunity to rectify these missteps still exists. For years, attempts have been made to upgrade the judiciary’s infrastructure and increase the number of judges to tackle the monumental caseload. Yet, these efforts have fallen short. Is it not time to discard outdated and prolonged procedural laws in order to achieve our objectives and rekindle the flame of justice?
The responsibility for this transformation lies with every participant within the justice ecosystem – lawmakers, legal professionals, and citizens who yearn for a brighter future. It is crucial that we seize this moment to learn from our shortcomings, adapt to evolving societal needs, and reinstate the judiciary to its rightful place as a symbol of hope and fairness.
The revival of trust and the revitalization of the judicial system go beyond mere administrative tasks; they embody a call to uphold the ideals on which our nation was built. Our duty extends to our citizens and, more importantly, to the essence of democracy itself. As we collectively embark on the journey of reform, let us usher in an era where justice is both prompt and unbiased – where the judiciary truly becomes the stronghold of democracy it was destined to be.
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