Favorable conditions for judges and lawyers in Maharashtra, says CJI Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud Friday emphasized the advantages enjoyed by lawyers and judges in Maharashtra citing a culture of governance that allows the judiciary to function independentlySpeaking at the inauguration of the new premises of the Mumbai bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal CAT the CJI acknowledged the challenges in the national judicial landscape including delays in appointments and a constant struggle for control over the judiciaryHighlighting the constant tussle over the ultimate control of judge appointments Chandrachud pointed out the prolonged vacancies and delays in appointments questioning the necessity of the numerous tribunals in the country He commended the culture of governance in Maharashtra where the government respects the judiciarys autonomy a luxury not uniformly experienced across the nationThe Chief Justice stressed the importance of acknowledging the governments role in supporting judicial infrastructure urging Mumbaikars not to overlook the significance of this support Chandrachud also underscored the need for enhanced accessibility for differentlyabled individuals in courtrooms emphasizing that technology should complement not replace physical access to justiceWhile recognizing the pivotal role of tribunals in alleviating court delays the CJI highlighted the infrastructural gaps in the judiciary citing a report that revealed a shortage of 4051 courtrooms against a sanctioned strength of 25081 judges in the district judiciary He urged for a more inclusive and architecturally accommodating approach to address the challenges faced by litigants with a particular focus on gender disparitiesChandrachud provided examples of the gendered impact of delays on women lawyers emphasizing the need for processes and infrastructure to be more inclusive He shared an incident from a few years ago when he visited Kolhapur district revealing the absence of toilet facilities for women judges highlighting the pressing need for improvementAlso read Maha Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis announces stringent measures in antidrug fightMeanwhile speaking at the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards function in Mumbai Chandrachud highlighted the pervasive issue of polarization worldwide attributing it to the proliferation of social media and growing intolerance among communities He emphasized the unique nature of Indias postindependence journey pointing out the countrys ability to sustain democracy and its pluralistic cultureChandrachud noted that the polarization observed globally spanning the divide between right and left as well as the center is closely tied to the expansion of social media the increasing sense of intolerance among communities and the short attention span prevalent among the younger generationHe underscored that this phenomenon is not isolated but rather a result of the influence of free markets and technologyReflecting on Indias ldquoresilience in maintaining democracyrdquo Chandrachud questioned what sets India apart from other nations that gained independence around the same time but struggled to sustain freedom He suggested that Indias internalization of democracy and constitutional values along with its pluralistic culture and commitment to inclusive dialogue played a pivotal roleThe Chief Justice acknowledged the challenges faced by those choosing a path of public service emphasizing the importance of such service for a thriving society He highlighted the sacrifices required and the delicate balance individuals must navigate between public duty and personal or career pursuitsChandrachud emphasized the judiciarys role in addressing injustice within the boundaries of the law but acknowledged the limitations in creating a truly just society solely through legal means He stressed the need to tap into innate goodness within individuals and communities for justice beyond the confines of the law With inputs from agencies