In a speech at YASHADA celebrating the 12th foundation day of the Pune International Centre (PIC), former Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Madan Lokur called for fundamental reforms in the judiciary. During the foundation day lecture, Justice Lokur delivered a speech entitled ‘Rise and Shine: Judiciary and Transforming Justice Delivery’.
The Supreme Court of India has dug itself into a hole, but it can climb out of it, according to Justice Lokur. In the years following the emergency, public interest litigation, access to justice, and the Lok Adalat have helped restore the top court’s honor to the extent that it has become known as the most powerful court in the world and the people’s court. It should be something we are proud of, he said.
The challenges of today – such as pending cases, unfilled vacancies, judges’ appointments, a large number of constitutional cases in cold storage, and curtailed freedom of speech – are distinctly different from those of the past.
“A systemic change is necessary for the judiciary to regain its turf,” he said.