Courts of the Future in India Cannot Remain Confined Within Buildings, Must Embrace Technology and Accessibility: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has highlighted the urgent need for the Indian judiciary to evolve beyond traditional courtrooms and embrace a more accessible, technology-driven approach to justice delivery.

Speaking at the Ashok Desai Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, the CJI stressed that the justice system must adapt to changing societal needs and technological advancements. He emphasized that courts should no longer remain limited to physical spaces but must ensure that justice reaches citizens efficiently.

“Justice is not something one must travel to seek but something that reaches the individual efficiently, equitably, and with a sensitivity to the realities of a changing society.”

The CJI underlined that future courts should function as a service-oriented system, making justice more inclusive, responsive, and citizen-centric. He pointed out that digital transformation and innovation will play a key role in shaping the judiciary of the future.

Reflecting on the evolving nature of law, he noted that legal principles continue to develop over time as they are applied to new and unforeseen situations.

“the ink used in a judgment does not dry when the decision is delivered…what appears today as a settled principle often finds its fullest meaning only years later, when applied to circumstances not yet imagined. In that sense, the law is always in dialogue with time.”

He further observed that judges of the future will need to expand their understanding beyond conventional legal frameworks, as emerging domains like technology, science, and data governance increasingly influence legal disputes.

The address reinforces the vision of a modern judiciary that is not confined by infrastructure but is dynamic, accessible, and prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving society.