Former CJI BR Gavai Calls For A Modern, Inclusive Justice System At Ideas For India Summit

Former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai addressed the Ideas for India summit, emphasising the urgent need to modernise and democratise India’s justice system.

Speaking to an audience of policymakers, legal professionals, and thought leaders, he reflected on the nation’s 78-year journey since Independence and offered a roadmap for the judiciary as India approaches 2047.

He also congratulated the Times of India group for organising the summit. He described the gathering as a platform for thinkers and visionaries invested in shaping India’s next two decades.

Highlighting the judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy, the former Chief Justice of India Gavai traced its evolution from the eight-judge Supreme Court in 1950 to today’s thirty-four judges, supported by 25 High Courts and nearly 700 district courts.

He further noted that special legislation has broadened the legal landscape. Emerging fields like intellectual property, competition law, and environmental regulation have also contributed to this expansion.

The introduction of technology, including e-filing, virtual hearings, and AI-assisted tools, has begun transforming court processes.

The former CJI cautioned that these technologies must enhance justice responsibly. They should maintain transparency, accountability, and human oversight.

He stressed the need to discard colonial-era practices and caste-coded nomenclature still present in court systems.

The former Chief Justice called for ending hierarchical subordination within the judiciary and reforming the police to focus on accountability, scientific investigation, and community trust.

“Justice must reach every citizen,” he said, highlighting the need for decentralised courts, circuit benches, mobile courts, and strengthened virtual infrastructure to overcome geographical barriers.

Strengthening Judicial and Institutional Capacity

Expanding the number of judges, courtrooms, and supporting institutions was described as essential. He urged robust investment in police, forensic laboratories, prosecution wings, and legal aid institutions, asserting that efficient administration would allow judges to focus on adjudication.

A multidisciplinary approach, incorporating legal academics, data analysts, behavioural scientists, and social workers, was recommended. This approach aims to enhance court efficiency and provide citizen-centric services.

He cited key rulings, including the ‘Bulldozer Judgment’ protecting the Right to Shelter and Supreme Court directives on sub-classification within Scheduled Castes to ensure fair access to reservation benefits.

These examples illustrated the judiciary’s role in safeguarding equality and constitutional rights.

Concluding his address, the former Chief Justice outlined a vision for 2047. He envisaged a technologically advanced, inclusive, and well-administered justice system that ensures timely, equitable, and humane justice for every Indian. Such a system, he noted, would reinforce democracy and promote social cohesion.

He called on policymakers and citizens alike to use these ideas as a foundation for sustained dialogue on reimagining India’s legal framework.

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