Indian Supreme Court prides itself in being the people’s court: CJI DY Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud recently spoke on the accountability of the judiciary, stating that judges of constitutional courts are answerable to the people.

CJI Chandrachud was speaking at the Jigme Singye Wangchuk lecture series in Bhutan.

While stressing that public trust blossoms in everyday interactions with the courts, CJI stated that judges are answerable to people at large.

"Democracy is not just about numbers. Last evening I had the privilege of meeting the Prime Minister of Bhutan. Two members of Parliament, including the present Prime Minister of Bhutan, moved the Supreme Court to ensure constitutional legitimacy in enactment of Money Bills. This account is a reminder to the contemporary world that while popular majorities define who is in government, the task of ensuring democratic accountability is a wider constitutional project," said the CJI.

He highlighted how the number of people before courts at various stages of proceedings easily exceeds the number of people who attain decisions in their disputes.

"Not the culmination alone, but every single step of this journey is an opportunity to foster public trust and gain legitimacy. Not only judicial decisions but also the roads leading up to them, must be transparent, navigable by everyone with or without a legal education and must be broad enough to accommodate everyone," said CJI Chandrachud.

The insulation of the judiciary from public opinion is central to judicial independence, he went on to say.

"Having their trust is hence crucial to our work. To discharge that trust, we must place our feet in their shoes, understand their lived realities and find solutions within their universe of existence. The Indian Supreme Court prides itself in being the people’s court. This honour was not an automatic incident of independence or the enactment of the Constitution. Rather, we have strived to fit that description and shed the image of an imposing and alienating foreign institution."