Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant emphasized that transparency and a willingness to be questioned are essential for maintaining public confidence in the legal system.
- CJI Surya Kant emphasized that institutions stay clean by surviving exposure, not by avoiding it.
- Transparency requires sharing the reasoning behind verdicts, not just the outcomes.
- The NCERT textbook controversy was cited as a lesson in institutional accountability.
Delivering the 6th Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, made profound observations regarding the relationship between the judiciary and public perception. He asserted that a court cannot seek the confidence of the people by placing itself beyond the reach of scrutiny.
The CJI invoked the recent controversy surrounding the NCERT Class 8 textbook, which contained references to 'judicial corruption.' While the Supreme Court had initially taken a stern view of such depictions, the CJI noted that the subsequent resolution of the matter served as an important occasion to reflect on the balance between legitimate criticism and institutional confidence.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the legitimacy of the judiciary rests not on its power, but on its perceived fairness. By advocating for openness to critique, the CJI is addressing the growing discourse on judicial accountability in a digital age.
A court does not earn trust by being liked, but by ensuring that even those who lose a case believe the process was fair.
Justice Kant provided a nuanced definition of transparency. He argued that true transparency is not merely about having open courtrooms or public hearings; rather, it is about making the reasoning behind a decision accessible to everyone. A court that announces a verdict but keeps its logic hidden fails the test of true transparency.
He further remarked that public trust is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process. It is shaped by the cumulative, ordinary experiences of citizens interacting with the legal system over time, rather than by a single landmark judgment.
Historical Background
The principle of 'Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done' has long been a cornerstone of common law systems. This ensures that the appearance of impartiality is as important as impartiality itself to prevent public disillusionment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What did the CJI say about judicial transparency?
He stated that transparency involves making the reasoning behind judicial decisions available for examination by the public.
2. How did the CJI link the NCERT row to judicial scrutiny?
He used the textbook controversy to illustrate that institutions maintain integrity by facing and surviving scrutiny rather than avoiding it.
