Courts must be centers of resolution: Chief Justice

December 29, 2025

The Indian judicial system is notorious for its lengthy delays in resolving cases. It’s common for ordinary cases to drag on for twenty or thirty years, and no one is surprised.

Lokpal (ombudsman) appointments have been made, fast-track courts have been established, and the new judicial code, amended after 150 years, includes provisions for hearing cases within a fixed timeframe. However, the situation of the judicial system in the country doesn’t seem to be changing.Hearings are still postponed frequently. Accused individuals are released on bail and roam freely in society, often acting as if they are above the law. Even after being punished under the judicial code, prisons have failed to become reformatories for convicts, as reports of criminal activities being conducted from within prisons are common these days.

Speaking at the National Conference of the Bar Council in Goa, Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the face of Indian courts must change. They should become centers of resolution, not just places for hearings. The burden of cases in Indian courts can also be reduced through mediation.However, people in the country, entangled in litigation, don’t seem to accept this. Justice Surya Kant said that more mediators are needed at all levels, from district courts to the Supreme Court.

This is an effective way to reduce pending cases. It is a sign of the strength and development of the law. Importantly, mediation can also help preserve relationships. However, mediators should be those who can understand the local language of ordinary people, understand their expressions, and have a cultural and psychological understanding of their problems.The Chief Justice stated that currently, there are 39,000 trained mediators in India, while the country’s courts need 2.5 lakh mediators for effective resolution.

The importance of mediators has not yet been fully understood in India. The Chief Justice called for a nationwide mediation campaign. He said that if this campaign is conducted honestly and effectively, better and more encouraging results will emerge. Justice Surya Kant also led a mediation awareness march in which lawyers and members of the public participated. If this alternative becomes widespread across the country, it could reduce delays in court judgments. However, this requires overcoming the petty, confrontational, and revenge-seeking mentality prevalent among ordinary people