Chief Justice Suryakant has said the Indian judiciary does not deliver decisions in favour of any side, stressing that courts act strictly in accordance with the Constitution. He described the judiciary as a guardian of India’s constitutional system.
In an interview to DD News, the Chief Justice said the judiciary is committed to constitutional values and to protecting the Constitution. He noted that the Constitution embodies equality, dignity, the rule of law, democratic ideals and an independent judiciary, along with fundamental rights.
He added that the judiciary’s constructive role is to safeguard and strengthen the Constitution’s basic structure. Even if circumstances in the country change, he said, the basic structure remains intact and cannot be altered, and must instead be respected and reinforced.
On pending cases, the Chief Justice acknowledged that backlog is a reality and a significant challenge for the judiciary. While he said there have been many improvements, he agreed that people’s expectation for cases to be concluded quickly is valid.
However, he cautioned that not every case can fit within a fixed time limit. If timelines are to be set, he said, a committee would be needed, and timeframes could be determined based on its recommendations.
