Archive · 14 Sep 2026
CJI Surya Kant urges preventive justice for infrastructure projects
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant spoke about how infrastructure projects should handle disagreements.
He said courts are important, but problems should be prevented before they become disputes.
A road or bridge cannot stop construction while a legal case is continuing.
Good contracts can explain what each side should do when unexpected problems occur.
These problems might include changing ground conditions or new regulations.
Risks should be given to the parties best able to manage them.
Standard contract terms can help people from different countries understand one another.
The CJI said clear duties, fair risks, early problem-solving and quick decisions can help projects succeed.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant called for a shift from retrospective to preventive justice in infrastructure development.
He said projects should be designed to identify and address disagreements before they become formal disputes.
The CJI argued that success should be measured partly by how few disputes a project generates.
He emphasized clear contracts, balanced risk allocation and standardized terms for infrastructure projects.
He urged government, industry and legal stakeholders to prioritize dispute avoidance and swift, independent resolution.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressed infrastructure stakeholders from government, industry and the legal profession.
- What
- He called for a shift from retrospective justice to preventive justice in infrastructure development.
- When
- The remarks were made on Monday and published on September 14, 2026.
- Where
- At the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference; the specific location was not stated.
- Why
- To reduce infrastructure disputes by improving contracts, risk allocation, communication and early dispute avoidance.
- Speaker
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
- Event
- FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference
- Main proposal
- Shift from retrospective justice to preventive justice
- Contract priorities
- Clear obligations, balanced risk allocation and sensible standardisation
- Dispute priorities
- Early dispute avoidance and swift, independent resolution
- Risks mentioned
- Changing ground conditions, regulatory developments and other unforeseen risks
- Publication date
- September 14, 2026