Supreme Court Judge: District Courts ‘Backbone' Of Justice System

“Access to justice for the common citizen largely depends on its efficiency, integrity and sensitivity,” he said while addressing a seminar on “Upholding the Constitutional Vision – The Role of the District Judiciary,” at the Judicial Academy here.

He said, “India possesses one of the largest judicial systems, guided by a Constitution. The Constitution accords a central role to the district judiciary. The primary duty of judges is to deliver quality justice that is both fair and understandable to ordinary citizens.

Court proceedings, he observed, should inspire confidence and strengthen public trust. “Judges must remain calm, composed and balanced even in the most complex situations, adopting a humanitarian approach despite rapid technological advancements.”

The senior judge stressed that integrity, discipline and sound legal knowledge “are indispensable qualities” for judges. They must resolve disputes with honesty and patience.”

He cautioned against hasty decisions, stating that sound judgments “require clarity, planning and a deep understanding of both visible and unseen influences in a case.”

Chief justice of the AP high court, Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur, who’s also patron-in-chief of the state judicial academy, said, “The right to life signifies living with dignity and quality.” Any negligence in judicial functioning, he warned, undermines justice under Articles 14 and 15, and called for a commitment to constitutional values.

Justice Ravinath Tilhari, chairman of the board of governors of the academy, said the district judiciary bears primary responsibility for protecting civil rights, particularly in sensitive cases involving women and children, while upholding the ideals enshrined in the Preamble.

Academy director Chintalapudi Purushottam Kumar, high court judges and others attended the event.