New Delhi, Jan 28: Chief Judge of India DY Chandrachud identified problems like “adjournment culture” and extended vacations, saying that the judiciary must face difficulties and have “difficult conversations” in order to stay relevant as an institution. In addition, he emphasised the importance of giving first-generation lawyers equal opportunities and boosting the representation of underprivileged groups. The CJI was addressing at a gathering hosted by the Supreme Court on the occasion of the start of the Diamond Jubilee Year of the foundation of the supreme court in the country. The main guest at the event was Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Justice of India also emphasised the demographic shifts taking place in the country, pointing out that women, who have historically been underrepresented in the legal field, now make up 36.3% of the district judiciary’s workforce. Calling attention to the fact that the representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes “is quite low both at the Bar as well as on the Bench,” CJI Chandrachud advocated for the admission of varied segments of the public into the legal profession. CJI Chandrachud described it as a “momentous occasion” in the history of the country and stated that women are now seen in prominent positions in India. The goal is to include the disadvantaged groups in society more fully. The younger generation’s self-assurance in their ability to excel in the workplace is equally motivating, he added. The Indian Supreme Court was established on January 28, 1950. Before relocating to this current facility, it operated out of Parliament House at first. “Traditionally, the legal profession was a profession of elite men,” CJI Chandrachud stated. The times have evolved.Women, who have historically been underrepresented in the field, currently make up 36.3% of the district judiciary’s workforce. The CJI also highlighted the structural problems that the court is facing, including the backlog of cases, outdated practices, and the culture of adjournments, emphasising the need to address these problems soon. As the district judiciary serves as the initial point of contact for people, it is imperative that we, as judges and administrators, make every effort to uphold its dignity. “We must identify challenges and start tough conversations if we want to be relevant as an institution,” he stated.According to the CJI, it is critical to shift from the culture of adjournment to one of professionalism. “Secondly, we need to make sure that the duration of oral arguments doesn’t cause judicial decisions to be delayed indefinitely.”In addition, he said, “Let us begin the conversation on long vacations and whether alternatives such as flexitime for lawyers and judges are possible.” Third, the legal profession needs to level the playing field for first-generation lawyers, which includes men, women, and people from marginalised segments who have the drive to work hard and the potential to succeed.He emphasised that over 50% of the candidates chosen for the Junior Civil Judge recruitment exam were women. The exam was held in multiple states, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. CJI Chandrachud further emphasised how the Supreme Court has named a record number of women as senior lawyers. “As administrators and judges, we cannot ignore these growing ambitions.In the 74-year history of the Supreme Court, only 12 women have been named “Senior Advocates” prior to the start of 2024. Eleven women representing various regions of the nation were named Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court last week, he said. Aside from lawyers and law students, the event was also attended by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, as well as active and retired judges from the highest court and lower courts.Adish C. Aggarwala, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, and Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, spoke to the audience as well. “Our legitimacy will endure from the inclusion of diverse sections of the population in our system,” CJI Chandrachud stated in his speech. As a result, we must work harder to encourage people from all walks of life to pursue careers in law.For example, there is very little representation of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes on the Bench and in the Bar. He continued by saying that it has been 75 years since the founding, which has given us the chance to overcome these obstacles and go forward while taking an honest look at our development.The CJI declared, “We must take stock of the path we have travelled and reaffirm our commitment to protect the Constitution both inside and outside of courtrooms.” The Chief Justices of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were also present during the programme.
