Fixing timeline for trials and unified national judicial policy on pendency are top priorities

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday declared that a “predictable timeline for deciding cases and a unified national policy for disposing pending matters” will be his first priority, as he laid out an ambitious roadmap for transforming India’s justice-delivery system into one that is swifter, cost-effective, more inclusive and firmly oriented toward the ordinary citizen.

- HT Correspondent

Speaking at the 23rd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit—his first major public interaction after assuming office as the 53rd Chief Justice on November 24—CJI Kant called for urgent judicial reform anchored in accessibility and predictability, coupled with prioritisation of old matters and cases involving the common man.

“My first priority will be a predictable timeline and a unified national judicial policy for early decisions of the pending cases,” he said in a freewheeling conversation with Utkarsh Anand, Hindustan Times’ national legal editor.

The CJI underscored that reducing pendency was not about clearing every case. “I am not saying the elimination of all the cases because that will never happen and that should not happen. Litigation is an ongoing process and people have trust and faith in the judicial system... but the old cases that are staring at our face—we really need to tackle that area,” he said.

The CJI said reforms are already underway in the Supreme Court to restructure listing and docket management. “I am undertaking the exercise of prioritising matters to be listed. This is not something I can do alone—my sister and brother judges have extended full cooperation. With help from domain experts and judicial colleagues, we will meet these challenges,” he noted.

He emphasised that the strength of the judicial system lies in district courts. Addressing concerns that trial judges often fear criticism from appellate courts in high-profile matters, he offered reassurance and encouragement. “The Indian judiciary is a dedicated community. I am absolutely confident about their commitment, integrity, competence and zeal to deliver justice,” he said.