Role of Lawyers Crucial in Delivering Justice: CJI

Delivering justice is not the sole responsibility of judges; the role of the Bar (lawyers) is equally crucial, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant emphasised. He laid the foundation stone on Sunday for the proposed new complex comprising 16 court buildings in Tirupati district. On his arrival at the construction site, he was accorded a guard of honour by the Andhra Pradesh Police. He later participated in the traditional bhoomi puja and unveiled the commemorative plaque.

Addressing a gathering organised on the occasion, Justice Surya Kant said that the Bar and the Bench are not adversaries but “two hands of the same system” within the judicial framework. “Dear members of the Bar, you are an inseparable part of the judicial system. The assistance rendered by Bar members and the depth of their arguments are reflected in judicial verdicts. The stronger and clearer the arguments presented by lawyers, the better the quality of judgments. Such judgments alone instil confidence in the common people about the rule of law,” he said.

He suggested that court complexes should function like hospitals. Just as a patient feels a sense of reassurance upon receiving primary treatment at a hospital, a person who approaches a court seeking justice should feel confident that justice will be delivered. Establishing such confidence, he said, is the shared responsibility of both the Bar and the Bench .

Justice Surya Kant also urged State governments to adopt a long-term vision in developing judicial infrastructure in view of rising population, urbanisation and industrialisation. He advised that construction projects should account for the needs of the next 50 to 100 years . With the availability of land likely to diminish in the future, he stressed the importance of planning appropriately from now.

The event was attended by Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur , Supreme Court judges Justice P.S. Narasimha, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, Justice S.V.N. Bhatti, and Justice J.B. Pardiwala , along with several other judges, district officials and Bar Association representatives.