CJI lays foundation of judicial complex, stresses on integrated justice system

GUWAHATI: The Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, said on Sunday that improved infrastructure and better working conditions can enhance court efficiency, but they alone cannot address the growing backlog of cases.The CJI made this remark after laying the foundation stone for Rs 1,705 crore integrated judicial court complex at Rangmahal in North Guwahati on Sunday. CJI Kant said the integrated complex is strategically positioned for the future generations and will emerge as a landmark of excellence, recognised not only on a national scale, but on the international map. “True it is that improved infrastructure and better working conditions help courts operate more efficiently. However, efficiency alone will not solve the problem of mounting cases. Mediation and structured dialogue offer effective, genuine alternatives for dispute resolution without compromising fairness,” he said.He further said disputes resolved through direct negotiation, rather than adversarial litigation, tend to conclude faster and produce outcomes more acceptable to all parties.The CJI stressed that dispute resolution is not confined to pronouncing of judgment only, but also includes the entire process for delivery of justice, right from approaching the courts to the final judgement for all stakeholders. When all functions are in tandem, it becomes a cohesive experience for all, and infrastructure integration is an important aspect, he added.“The proposed judicial court complex will provide an institutional framework to make this approach succeed. I am confident that a dedicated mediation centre and an arbitration centre within the same premises will greatly benefit both members of the Bar and litigants by enabling quicker resolution through alternative dispute mechanisms,” he added. The CJI further said when judges can confidently suggest mediation or other alternatives — knowing that parties won’t have to travel across the city for another appointment — people are far more likely to agree. “By uniting these services under one roof, we remove barriers that have long discouraged dialogue. A fragmented system creates problems; an integrated one fosters solutions,” he said.CJI Kant said the complex is being built not for today, but for decades ahead — for the northeast that continues to grow, assert its place within the nation’s constitutional framework. “The laying of this foundation stone is not an endpoint, but a commitment to leave behind courts stronger and more capable than those we inherited, and to ensure that when our time is done, we can say we gave the institution what it needed to serve well,” he said.