Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday said the judiciary and its allied institutions enjoy deep public trust and it is their responsibility to preserve and strengthen this faith.
Addressing a programme organised by the Association of Retired Judges (Rajasthan Chapter) here, he likened former judges to ‘baoris’ (stepwells), describing them as a reservoir of wisdom that can guide the system during challenging times.
“Just as stepwells store water during the rains and serve people in times of scarcity, retired judges are a valuable resource for us. In situations of difficulty — be it in Lok Adalats, arbitration or advisory roles — we look up to these experienced judges for guidance on what is right and what is not,” he said.
Justice Surya Kant laid emphasis on the need for greater awareness and proactive functioning within the judiciary and related bodies, including the National Legal Services Authority and state legal services authorities.
He said that former judges can play crucial roles as mediators and arbitrators, particularly in commercial and family matters, by assuming the role of prelitigation counsellors, explaining rights in plain language to citizens, mentoring the next generation of mediators and preserving institutional memory for future judges.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also addressed the programme and said that people have greater faith in the judiciary. (Agencies)
