‘Judiciary always ready to address problems, suffering of people’: CJI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday said that the Supreme Court’s doors remain open to every citizen, assuring the nation’s youth that the judiciary will protect their rights and address every legitimate grievance within the framework of law

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Friday said that the Supreme Court’s doors remain open to every citizen, assuring the nation’s youth that the judiciary will protect their rights and address every legitimate grievance within the framework of law.

CJI Surya Kant (PTI)

The CJI’s assurance came amid nationwide student protests and controversy relating to alleged excesses by security forces during the July 20 march to Parliament in Delhi.

Speaking to HT, the CJI said the Supreme Court will hear grievances in accordance with the law and judicial procedure, and make every effort to secure justice wherever warranted.

“I would want to assure every citizen and especially the youth of the country that if any injustice has been caused to any person, the Supreme Court will hear the grievance within the bounds of law and the prescribed judicial procedure. Wherever possible, we will ensure that justice is done. The judiciary is always ready to address the problems and suffering of the people,” the CJI said.

“I do not wish to comment on the merits because the issue has come before the court and it was mentioned in the afternoon today. But it is incorrect to say that the Supreme Court had earlier refused to hear the matter,” he said.

Emphasising that access to justice remained central to the institution, the CJI added: “The doors of the Supreme Court are open 24 hours a day for every citizen. The court will not allow injustice to prevail.”

The CJI explained that no properly instituted petition was before the court when the controversy first arose. “Only a letter or representation had been submitted while seeking an urgent hearing. That is not the procedure recognised by law. A petition has to be filed in accordance with the rules and procedure prescribed by the Supreme Court,” he said.

The CJI underlined that once properly constituted petitions were filed and mentioned before the court later on Friday, they were accepted for listing. “When the petitions were subsequently filed and mentioned before us, we agreed to list them, and they will now be dealt with in accordance with law,” he added.

The remarks assume significance against the backdrop of criticism directed at the Supreme Court after it declined on Wednesday to entertain an oral request by an advocate seeking suo motu cognisance of alleged police brutality during the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march organised by the CJP.

Earlier on Friday, while presiding over a bench with justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, the CJI had also clarified in open court that no writ petition had been filed before the Supreme Court until Friday morning, and criticised what he described as “reckless” reporting suggesting that the court had refused to list the matter.

Hours later, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned two freshly filed petitions alleging police excesses during the protests. Informing the bench that the petitions had now been assigned diary numbers and formally instituted, he sought an urgent hearing, citing continuing allegations of excessive use of force against student protesters. The CJI directed that the petitions be listed for hearing on Monday.