Mumbai: Former Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice NV Ramana, delivered a thought-provoking address at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay’s (IIT-B) Techfest, urging a collective focus on technological advancements and systemic reforms to strengthen the Indian judiciary. In his speech, Justice Ramana lauded IIT-B for its contributions to Indian society, particularly in fostering scientific innovation and producing eminent scientists.
Reflecting on the disparities within Indian society, Justice Ramana invoked the iconic opening lines of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” He drew a parallel between the dualities described in the book and the current state of India, highlighting the stark contrast between urban affluence and rural deprivation.
“There are two Indias; urban and the rest of the country. While urban India enjoys quality electricity, healthcare, and infrastructure, rural areas lack access to even basic amenities,” he said.
The former CJI also shed light on the alarming backlog of cases plaguing the Indian judiciary, with over five crore cases pending across courts. “Of these, 90% are stuck at the lower levels—district and taluka courts,” he said, stressing that this long pendency is not solely the judiciary’s responsibility.
He identified several systemic causes for pendency, including lack of judicial infrastructure, vacancies in the judiciary, absence of impact assessments for new legislations, executive non-compliance with judgments, procedural delays, and misuse of legal processes.
Referring to Article 38 of the Indian Constitution, which mandates all three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judiciary—to ensure justice for all, criticised successive governments since independence for neglecting the development of judicial infrastructure.
“Many district courts don’t even have a proper room. There are places where I’ve seen lawyers set up their desks under a flyover. No government post independence has focussed on Judicial infrastructure, which needs to be developed as hospitals and roads are being built,” he said.
Justice Ramana outlined the potential of technology to address many of the judiciary’s challenges. He cited examples such as transitioning from physical filing to e-filing, which has reduced costs and made it easier for litigants to file cases, and the use of video conferencing, which has enabled lawyers and witnesses to attend a hearing from anywhere.
However, Justice Ramana cautioned against viewing technology as the “only solution”. He stated that technology alone cannot solve the problems and requires proper infrastructure, training, and technological literacy. He pointed out that India still lacks software for translating witness statements in regional dialects and for live transcription of court proceedings.
The former CJI advocated for “Indianisation” of the judiciary by localising solutions and innovations. He emphasised that technological advancements must be accessible to all, including marginalised communities. “Technology must not remain confined to urban centres, and engineers must create solutions that bridge divides and empower the poor to access justice,” he urged the students.
He highlighted several barriers to technological integration in the judiciary, including inadequate power backup in approximately 40% of district courts, which hinders the use of digital tools, and cybersecurity concerns, stressing the need for indigenous technology to protect sensitive judicial data. He also emphasised the importance of training judges, lawyers, and court staff to effectively use new technologies.
Justice Ramana addressed the role of artificial intelligence in streamlining judicial processes but warned against over-reliance. “Judges must remain in control of AI, and not the other way around,” he said.
