Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant on Saturday said that High Courts should respond to injustice with the same urgency and precision that hospitals show in their emergency departments. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi, he emphasised that the judicial system must be capable of acting instantly when a critical situation arises— just as medical professionals cannot afford even a moment’s delay when a patient’s life hangs in the balance.
Justice Surya Kant stressed that the future of the judiciary lies in swift, synchronised and technology-driven mechanisms that ensure justice is not only delivered, but delivered on time.
He urged High Courts to plan their institutional growth just as a modern hospital engineers its emergency wing—with systems designed to offer quick, decisive and accurate responses during moments of crisis. “Our courts should strive for the same level of readiness, efficiency and coordination,” he remarked.
Only with such proactive vision, he said, can the judicial system continue to meet the expectations of a constitutional democracy where clarity, speed and effective solutions are essential.
These reforms, he added, are not mere administrative improvements but represent the next stage in expanding meaningful access to justice.
Justice Surya Kant also underlined that High Courts hold a pivotal role in driving social transformation. With their broad jurisdiction, constitutional powers and proximity to the people, they are uniquely positioned to shape legal progress in ways that directly impact everyday life.
He described High Courts as the institutions where the highest principles of justice intersect with the lived experiences of citizens, making them indispensable to legal and social reform.
Pointing to their extensive powers under Article 226, which exceed the Supreme Court’s authority under Article 32, he said High Courts are empowered not only to enforce fundamental rights but also to safeguard other legal rights. This sweeping mandate, paired with their accessibility, ensures that legal remedies are neither distant nor delayed.
Calling High Courts the cornerstone of constitutional justice, Justice Surya Kant said they turn abstract constitutional promises into concrete relief grounded in local realities.
Their decisions, shaped by regional contexts and cultural sensitivities, give justice a “human touch” and enable them to foster inclusive, experience-based social change.
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