Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Monday said that ensuring easy access to justice and equal treatment to citizens regardless of their status is the constitutional duty of the judiciary.Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was sworn in as the 51st CJI by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan,
expressed deep honour in leading the judiciary, the third pillar of democracy, and outlined a citizen-centric agenda for judicial reforms.
“Judiciary is an integral, yet distinct and independent part of the governance system. The Constitution trusts upon us the role of constitutional guardian, protector of Fundamental Rights, and responsibility to fulfil the important task of being a service provider of justice,” the CJI said in his first statement.
He said, “The justice delivery framework in terms of providing equal treatment necessitates fair opportunity to succeed to all, regardless of status, wealth or power, and a just and unbiased adjudication. These mark our core principles.”
“The responsibility entrusted upon us affirms our commitment as protectors of citizens’ rights and as dispute resolvers. It is our constitutional duty to ensure easy access to justice to all citizens of our great nation,” he said.
Chief Justice Khanna identified pressing challenges facing the judiciary, including the need to reduce case backlogs, make litigation affordable, and simplify complex legal processes.
Recognizing that the justice system must cater to all citizens, he outlined a vision to make courts more approachable and user-friendly.