Courts Now Face Challenge of Preserving Public Trust, Says CJI
Chief Justice of India Highlights Growing Need to Strengthen Faith in Justice Systems Amid Technological and Social Change
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has observed that courts across the world are facing a common and increasingly complex challenge: preserving public trust in the justice delivery system. Speaking during judicial engagements in Russia following the signing of a judicial cooperation agreement between the Supreme Courts of India and Russia, the CJI emphasized that maintaining confidence in courts is as important as delivering justice itself.
The remarks come at a time when judicial institutions worldwide are grappling with rapid technological advancements, rising public scrutiny, misinformation, and growing expectations for transparency and efficiency.
Public Trust Is the Foundation of Judicial Legitimacy
Addressing members of the Russian judiciary, Justice Surya Kant noted that despite differences in legal traditions and constitutional structures, courts in both India and Russia face a shared responsibility of ensuring that citizens continue to believe in the fairness, independence, and effectiveness of the justice system.
According to the CJI, the legitimacy of courts ultimately rests not on force or executive authority but on public confidence in judicial institutions. A judiciary that enjoys public trust is better positioned to uphold the rule of law and protect constitutional values.
Technology Must Enhance Access to Justice
Justice Surya Kant stressed that technological innovation should serve as a tool to improve access to justice rather than replace human judicial decision-making.
Highlighting India’s digital transformation of the judiciary, he referred to several initiatives that have modernized court administration and expanded accessibility:
- Digital court infrastructure.
- E-filing and virtual hearing systems.
- Translation of judgments into regional languages.
- Technology-assisted case management.
- AI-enabled legal research and translation tools.
The CJI underscored that technology must remain citizen-centric and should help bridge, rather than widen, barriers to justice.
Challenges Facing Modern Judiciaries
The Chief Justice identified several contemporary challenges confronting courts globally:
Increasing Public Expectations
Citizens today expect faster, more transparent, and more accessible justice systems.
Information Ecosystem
The rapid spread of information through digital platforms has increased scrutiny of judicial institutions and created new challenges relating to misinformation and public perception.
Balancing Transparency and Independence
Courts must remain accountable and transparent while preserving judicial independence and impartiality.
Managing Growing Caseloads
Many judicial systems continue to struggle with increasing litigation and the need for efficient dispute resolution mechanisms.
India’s Judicial Modernization Efforts
The CJI highlighted India’s efforts to make justice delivery more efficient through technological innovation and institutional reforms.
Among the initiatives cited were:
- SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) for translation of judicial documents.
- Digitization of court records.
- Standardization of case data systems.
- Expansion of online dispute resolution and mediation mechanisms.
- Increased accessibility of court services through digital platforms.
These measures, according to the CJI, demonstrate how technology can be used to strengthen rather than undermine public confidence in courts.
India-Russia Judicial Cooperation
The remarks were delivered during interactions linked to the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial cooperation between the Supreme Court of India and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.
The agreement seeks to promote:
- Exchange of judicial best practices.
- Cooperation in court administration.
- Training and academic exchanges.
- Sharing experiences in digital justice systems.
- Collaboration on legal research and innovation.
The partnership is expected to facilitate mutual learning between two large judicial systems facing similar challenges in the twenty-first century.
Why Public Trust Matters
Legal experts frequently describe public confidence as the judiciary’s most valuable institutional asset.
Unlike executive agencies, courts rely largely on voluntary compliance with their decisions. Public acceptance of judicial rulings depends significantly on the perception that courts are:
- Independent.
- Fair.
- Competent.
- Transparent.
- Accessible to all citizens.
Any erosion of public trust can weaken the effectiveness of judicial institutions and the broader rule of law.
Looking Ahead
Justice Surya Kant’s remarks reflect a growing global conversation about the future of judicial institutions in the digital age. As courts increasingly adopt technology and face heightened public scrutiny, preserving confidence in the justice system remains a central challenge.
The Chief Justice’s message underscores that while technology, modernization, and efficiency are important, the ultimate success of any judicial system will continue to depend on its ability to earn and maintain the trust of the people it serves.
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant says courts worldwide face the challenge of preserving public trust amid technological change, growing expectations, and evolving justice systems. Learn about his key observations and India’s judicial modernization efforts.
