CJI Chandrachud Reframes District Judiciary as the 'Backbone of Justice'

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasized the crucial role of the district judiciary, urging for the term 'subordinate judiciary' to be abandoned. Speaking at the National Conference of the District Judiciary, he highlighted the emotional toll on judges and the increasing presence of women in the judiciary.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday emphasized the significant role of district judiciary, terming it the 'backbone of the judiciary' and called for the abandonment of the term 'subordinate judiciary'. Speaking at the National Conference of the District Judiciary, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Supreme Court judges, and other judicial officers, Chandrachud stressed that the district judiciary is the first point of contact for citizens seeking justice and is integral to the rule of law.

'The quality of our work and the conditions in which we provide justice to citizens determine their confidence in us and is a test of our own accountability,' noted the Chief Justice. 'The district judiciary must shoulder tremendous responsibility and is aptly described as the 'backbone of the judiciary'. To sustain the spine of our legal system, we must stop calling the district judiciary the subordinate judiciary. Seventy-five years after Independence, it is time to bury the colonial mindset of subordination,' he added.

Chandrachud also highlighted the emotional challenges faced by judicial officers who handle a wide range of cases, stating that judges balance professional work with mental well-being. 'It is difficult for a judge not to be affected by the human suffering they encounter daily, whether it's a family facing a gruesome crime or an undertrial languishing for years. Mental health of judges is an aspect that unfortunately does not receive the attention it deserves,' he said.

The Chief Justice further noted an increasing number of women joining the district judiciary, with Kerala leading at 72% of women judges. In 2023, women constituted 58% of total recruitments for Civil Judges in Rajasthan and 66% in Delhi. 'In Uttar Pradesh, 54% of the appointments for Civil Judge (Junior Division) in the 2022 batch were women. These examples show a promising future for our judiciary,' Chandrachud concluded.

(With inputs from agencies.)