Justice Unplugged: Public religion within the judiciary is eroding, says former CJI Ramana

Justice N.V. Ramana, Former Chief Justice of India at Justice unplugged: The Hindu and VITSOL regulation conclave, Taj Connemara, in Chennai on Saturday (March 22, 2025).
| Picture Credit score: R. Ravindran

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana on Saturday stated that the religion of the individuals within the judiciary is eroding. Talking on the regulation conclave Justice Unplugged: Shaping the Way forward for Regulation in Chennai, organised by VIT College of Regulation (VITSOL), VIT Chennai, in collaboration with The Hindu, the previous CJI emphasised the necessity to acknowledge and deal with these perceptions whereas formulating options.

“Sadly, in latest occasions, a median citizen is apprehensive about approaching courts, fearing the unknown. They’ve raised issues about delays, pendency, accessibility, poor infrastructure, massive vacancies, transparency of authorized proceedings, the ill-equipped felony justice system, rising variety of false circumstances and many others.,” Justice Ramana (retd.) stated, highlighting the need of creating the authorized system extra accessible to India’s marginalised populations.

He additionally advocated the ‘Indianisation’ of the authorized system, stressing the significance of administering justice in native languages to reinforce transparency for litigants.

“The process and language of regulation make it very troublesome for the shoppers to know the courtroom proceedings. As soon as a case is filed, the litigants usually really feel they’ve misplaced management over the destiny of their dispute. Nevertheless, as soon as the language barrier is lowered, the entry to justice improves,” he stated.

Systemic points

Justice Ramana famous that the judiciary doesn’t adequately replicate the nation’s variety. He emphasised {that a} extra consultant bench would enrich jurisprudence. “This downside requires motion on the a part of the upper judiciary to nominate extra judges from numerous social and financial backgrounds. Salutary statements and lip-services wouldn’t assist the trigger,” he stated. 

Extra critically, he identified the obvious underrepresentation of ladies within the judiciary, calling it a systemic concern that calls for pressing redressal. “Throughout my tenure because the CJI, the Supreme Court docket had the very best variety of ladies judges in its historical past,” he acknowledged. At current, solely two of the 33 Supreme Court docket judges are ladies.

In a pointy critique of the entrenched nepotism in judicial appointments, the previous CJI highlighted how people with influential connections usually take pleasure in undue benefits in profession development, a priority additionally mirrored within the thirtieth Regulation Fee Report. 

“In latest occasions, senior judges of the Supreme Court docket have additionally been highlighting this concern. It’s the want of the hour to get away from this tradition within the system. Battle for bringing a degree enjoying discipline, is a long-drawn battle,” he stated.