Chief Justice of India (CJI)-designate Justice Surya Kant, speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi, called for a fundamental shift in how High Courts envision their institutional growth and operation. He emphatically urged that these courts must function with the preparedness, efficiency, and coordinated response of a modern hospital’s emergency services.

Justice Kant, who is set to assume the office of CJI on November 24, stressed that the judiciary’s role extends far beyond merely settling disputes; its core purpose must also be the protection of the innocent from “being lost in the storms of circumstance.”

The Rationale: Empathy and Swift Response

Justice Kant drew a direct parallel between the urgency of a medical crisis and the necessity of judicial immediacy.

“I believe that high courts must begin to envision their institutional growth much like a modern hospital designs its emergency services… In the same way that an emergency ward cannot afford delay, our courts too must aspire to that level of preparedness, efficiency, and coordinated response,” he stated.

He recalled his very first case—an urgent plea involving a cross-border custody dispute of two minor children—to illustrate the human cost of delay. He described the “quiet anguish of the children, caught between competing jurisdictions and uncertain futures,” noting that the experience underscored how judicial institutions must embody both empathy and resolve.

The High Court as the ‘Bridge’

Justice Kant highlighted the unique and indispensable position of the High Courts within India’s federal justice structure:

• Bridge to the Constitution: Positioned between the district courts (which handle grassroots issues) and the Supreme Court (the final sentinel of the Constitution), High Courts function as the “bridge between the citizen and the Constitution.”
• Constitutional Mandate: He emphasized that the High Courts’ true significance lies in Article 226 of the Constitution, which grants them the wide authority not only to enforce Fundamental Rights (like the Supreme Court under Article 32) but also to protect legal rights of every kind. This proximity and broad jurisdiction enable High Courts to act swiftly and effectively in cases of injustice, ensuring protection is immediate and within reach.

Mandate for Modernization and Adaptability

Achieving this “emergency service” model, Justice Kant argued, requires a multi-pronged strategy focused on rapid innovation and forward-thinking preparation.

1. Technological Integration

Justice Kant championed the necessity of strengthening technological capacity to ensure justice remains accessible, especially to those in remote or physically restricted areas. This includes:

• E-filing systems
• Real-time case tracking
• Accessible digital platforms
• Use of AI-based tools for research and data analytics (with the caveat that technology must augment, not replace,human judgment).

2. Specialized Expertise and Procedural Streamlining

To ensure decisive and effective responses, courts must streamline their procedures and build specialized capacity. He called for:

• Streamlining procedures
• Building specialised expertise in emerging legal fields
• Ensuring judicial processes adapt instantly to evolving situations.

Preparing for the Future Era of Litigation

Finally, Justice Kant warned that the traditional judicial models are insufficient to face the challenges that will define the next few decades. He called for a complete rethinking of judicial models to prepare for an era shaped by:

• Cybercrime and Digital Evidence
• Climate-related Disputes and Environmental Concerns
• Resource Conflicts
• Increasing Caseloads

He concluded that only with such foresight and efficiency can the judiciary continue to deliver the timely and effective remedies that a constitutional democracy demands.