Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has placed transparency, constructive criticism and continuing institutional reform at the centre of the judiciary’s claim to public trust.
Speaking at the sixth Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, the Chief Justice described the mechanism developed by the Supreme Court and high courts for handling complaints against judges as responsive and timely. He also argued that no institution can treat remaining static as a virtue.
The address distinguished public trust from public approval. In the Chief Justice’s formulation, confidence in courts is demonstrated when a litigant who loses a case can still believe that the process was fair.
Justice Surya Kant said informed and constructive criticism is a legitimate feature of constitutional democracy. Courts, he added, cannot expect confidence while placing their own functioning beyond examination.
The speech is significant because judicial accountability depends on both formal safeguards and public visibility. Complaint procedures, reasoned judgments and openness to scrutiny are the practical means through which the institution can demonstrate fairness without compromising judicial independence.
