Politics · India · 1 hr ago
India’s chief justice urges stronger, more responsive High Courts
At a celebration marking 75 years of the Kerala High Court, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the Supreme Court and High Courts are partners, not competing places to seek justice.
He said India’s 25 High Courts are central to constitutional justice because they are closer to people’s local concerns.
Under Article 226, High Courts can protect fundamental rights and other legal rights, while Article 32 provides access to the Supreme Court for fundamental-rights cases.
Kant stressed that timely court intervention can determine whether justice is done, especially when people need urgent protection.
He also called for more transparent and predictable case listings and asked whether technology could help identify urgent cases.
His remarks followed a growing tendency for litigants to ask the Supreme Court to speed up hearings in cases pending before High Courts.
Kant said the judiciary should examine how to improve responsiveness while respecting the High Courts’ independence.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged the judiciary to improve its responsiveness, including making case listings more transparent and predictable.
Speaking at the Kerala High Court’s platinum jubilee celebrations, he said timely intervention can determine whether justice is done.
He described the Supreme Court and High Courts as constitutional partners, not competing destinations for justice.
Kant highlighted High Courts’ powers under Article 226 to protect fundamental and other legal rights and provide interim relief.
He said India’s network of 25 High Courts is central to constitutional justice and is closely connected to people’s local concerns.
- Who
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
- What
- He urged stronger, more responsive High Courts and called for more transparent and predictable case listings.
- When
- Sunday, November 1, 2026. The reports were published on November 1 and 2.
- Where
- At the Kerala High Court’s platinum jubilee celebrations in Kochi.
- Why
- He said timely intervention and effective High Court processes are important to protecting rights and delivering justice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Surya Kant spoke at the Kerala High Court’s platinum jubilee celebrations in Kochi.
The Times of India published its report on his remarks.
The Hindustan Times published its report on his remarks.
- Speaker
- Surya Kant
- Event
- Kerala High Court platinum jubilee celebrations
- Location
- Kochi
- High Courts
- 25
- Constitutional provision
- Article 226
- Listing changes urged
- More transparent and predictable case listings
2 sources
What people are saying
These are not questions of institutional criticism but of collective responsibility
The difference between justice and injustice lies not in the final judgment, but in whether the court intervenes when intervention is most needed
Can listing procedures be made more transparent and predictable?