Introduction
Calling for transformative reforms in India’s judicial system, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has strongly advocated the adoption of a unified judicial policy supported by advanced technology. Addressing a regional judicial conference, the CJI emphasised that technology can harmonise court practices across the country and deliver a consistent, citizen-centric justice experience irrespective of geography.
Background and Context
Speaking at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Justice Surya Kant highlighted the long-standing challenges posed by India’s federal judicial structure. While decentralisation has allowed High Courts to evolve independently, it has also resulted in divergent administrative practices, procedural standards, and technological maturity across jurisdictions.
According to the CJI, this diversity has unintentionally created uneven experiences for litigants, undermining predictability and public trust in the justice delivery system.
Vision for a National Judicial Ecosystem
Justice Surya Kant proposed reimagining India’s judiciary as a single national ecosystem rather than a collection of parallel regional systems. He argued that modern technology now makes it possible to align standards, interfaces, and goals across courts.
He noted that digital transformation should enable seamless interactions for citizens, reduce regional disparities, and ensure uniform access to justice nationwide.
Technology as a Constitutional Instrument
The CJI underscored that technology in courts has evolved far beyond administrative convenience. He described it as a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency.
Digital platforms, he said, allow courts to overcome physical distances and bureaucratic rigidity, enabling faster, more transparent, and principled judicial outcomes.
Addressing Delays Through Data and Predictability
Justice Surya Kant stressed that predictability is a core expectation citizens have from courts. Technology, he explained, plays a crucial role in identifying systemic delays that often remain hidden in traditional workflows.
Data-driven tools can highlight bottlenecks in areas such as bail applications or specific dispute categories, allowing courts to take targeted corrective action. Real-time monitoring of case pendency, transparent listing protocols, and prioritisation of sensitive matters were cited as key benefits.
Prioritising Urgent and High-Impact Cases
Highlighting the human cost of judicial delays, the CJI referred to his recent administrative directive ensuring urgent matters, including bail petitions and habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of defect removal.
He emphasised that where delays cause serious harm, judicial systems must respond with urgency, and technology can play a decisive role in identifying and expediting such cases.
Clarity and Uniformity in Judicial Communication
Justice Surya Kant also addressed a less discussed but critical issue: the clarity of judicial orders. He observed that many litigants struggle to understand judgments, even when rulings are in their favour, due to complex and technical legal language.
He called for greater uniformity and simplicity in judicial writing, stating that a unified judicial approach must extend to how courts communicate outcomes to the public.
Role of AI and Advanced Digital Tools
The CJI highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital tools in judicial decision-making and case management. AI-based research assistants, he noted, can identify missing precedents, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narratives.
Existing platforms such as the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts were cited as successful examples of how technology is already standardising filings, case tracking, and administrative processes across India.
Expert Commentary
Justice Surya Kant concluded by emphasising that technological innovation must ultimately serve the citizen. He remarked that the true measure of innovation lies not in software complexity but in how clearly citizens understand judicial outcomes and how strongly they believe justice has been delivered.
Outlook
The CJI’s call for a unified judicial policy signals a decisive push towards deeper digital integration and institutional consistency across India’s courts. If implemented effectively, this vision could mark a significant shift towards faster, more transparent, and more accessible justice, reinforcing public confidence in the rule of law.
