CJI Suryakant said the Indian judiciary is the guardian of the Constitution. He said the judiciary does not take decisions in favour of any party or the Opposition, but bases its decisions on constitutional values.
CJI Suryakant made these remarks in an interview with DD News. He said the Constitution is the country’s greatest strength and that protecting and strengthening its basic structure is the judiciary’s most important responsibility.
He said, “The judiciary does not decide for any party or the Opposition. It takes decisions based on constitutional values and the protection of the Constitution.”
CJI Suryakant said the Constitution is the country’s greatest strength and is therefore considered supreme. He said it guarantees fundamental rights such as equality, dignity, the rule of law, democratic values and an independent judiciary.
He said the Indian judiciary has a key role in protecting and strengthening this basic constitutional framework and must remain committed to it.
Basic structure of the Constitution will not change
The CJI said that despite changes in the country’s circumstances, the basic structure of the Constitution would remain unchanged.
He said, “It cannot be changed. We have to strengthen it with the same respect and dignity.”
On the ongoing debate over judicial activism and impartiality, the CJI said that protecting weaker and disadvantaged sections of society is part of the judiciary’s constitutional responsibility.
He said a large section of the country’s population is socially and economically disadvantaged and cannot easily approach courts to seek their legal and constitutional rights.
PIL and suo motu action deemed necessary
The CJI said Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and suo motu cases are important tools for protecting the rights of such people.
He said, “It is our responsibility to take steps to protect community rights, people’s rights, social rights and constitutional rights.
The court can take action on its own, or an individual can approach the court through a PIL as a representative of the public. At times, action is also taken through suo motu proceedings or other means.”
He said protecting these rights is the judiciary’s constitutional responsibility, although some people describe this role as judicial activism.
The CJI explained that in traditional cases, hearings generally take place between two parties.
In contrast, in such cases, an individual brings an issue before the court not for their own private rights, but over the denial of rights to a large section of the public or society.
He said the real meaning of this activism is that, instead of dealing with a case between two parties in the traditional way, an individual brings before the court an issue involving the denial of rights to a large section of society.
The CJI said that through this process, the court helps restore the rights of people who are not directly present before it but are represented by someone else.
He said, “Therefore, judicial activism should not be viewed in any other way. It is an integral part of our legal and constitutional responsibility.”
Emphasis on reducing case pendency
CJI Suryakant also spoke about reducing the number of pending cases and improving case management in courts. He said that when he became Chief Justice of India, his priorities were not limited to administrative achievements.
He said there were several other areas where work and progress were needed. On the issue of pending cases, he said special steps were taken, including a simple case management plan known as docket management.
The CJI said that forming Constitution Benches and grouping similar cases in the Supreme Court, High Courts and District Courts had helped streamline judicial work.
He said some cases are highly sensitive or important and can have a major impact on the country and different courts, resulting in thousands of related cases remaining pending.
The CJI said, “We first decided to hear such cases. Constitution Benches were formed, and many cases were grouped together. The aim was to identify cases where hearing them together could help reduce the backlog in the Supreme Court.”
He said several such steps were taken to reduce pendency in the Supreme Court. At the same time, various reforms also played an important role at the grassroots level in High Courts and District Courts.
Became a Supreme Court Judge on May 24, 2019
CJI Suryakant was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019. He took the oath as the Chief Justice of India on November 24, 2025.
