Can't expect all Supreme Court judges to have same opinion, speak in one voice: Former CJI NV Ramana

The Supreme Court of India has more than thirty judges who are independent Constitutional functionaries and they cannot be expected to have the same opinion or speak in one voice, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana said on Sunday..The former CJI said that all the judges speaking in one voice would not be a healthy sign of democracy."Over seven decades, a variety of opinions have emanated from Supreme Court. As an institution, the judiciary cannot be judged on the basis of any one opinion. Similarly, the country cannot expect a constitutional body consisting of over 30 independent constitutional authorities to always speak in one voice. An institution speaking in one voice will not be a sign of a healthy democracy. Like every other sphere, diverse views and viewpoints are essential for the judicial institution, and democracy," he said.The former CJI was delivering the Capital Foundation Annual Lecture in New Delhi during which he received the Justice VR Krishna Iyer award..He said that he would not speak about his time in office as the Supreme Court CJI since he demitted the office only recently. "Instead, I would prefer to speak about the march of the Indian Judiciary through these 72 years. Undoubtedly, the Indian Supreme Court and the judiciary as a whole has played a significant role in furthering the goals of democracy," he said.In his speech, the former CJI touched upon the issue of public interest litigation (PIL), stating that occasional misuse of PIL should not be a reason for Constitutional courts to do away with the same."Is its occasional misuse reason enough for the Constitutional courts to avoid such positive experimentation? There are many such questions that we as an institution need to examine. Ultimately, we need to remember that it is the people’s faith and trust that needs to be maintained. Any institution that does not enjoy public confidence is of no relevance to the society. I am of the considered view that the judiciary is no exception to this," he said.Regarding incorrect judgments, the former CJI pointed out how the Supreme Court had course corrected after emergency and overruled many of its erroneous decisions and the same would the case in future as well."In the future as well, in tune with sensibilities of time, the judiciary is bound to revisit and further strengthen the fundamental liberties and dignities which make our life worthwhile. The Courts have played an important role in ensuring that the rights enshrined in the Constitution are not a dead letter. The judiciary has reinforced the idea that justice demands balancing the needs of an individual with the welfare of the community. It is because of these reasons that, today, we thrive as the largest democracy governed by a written Constitution."The ex-CJI said that during his tenure he tried to focus on the long-standing issues of augmenting judicial infrastructure, filling up of judicial vacancies and increasing efficiency by adopting technology. Pointing to the inequalities and issues like hunger and poverty facing a vast majority of Indians, the retired CJI opined, "Sustainable and responsive growth is the key towards an inclusive and equitable future. A dignified living for all is non-negotiable.".Justice Ramana was the 48th Chief Justice of India, and served a tenure of a more than a year, from April 24, 2021 to 26 August, 2022. He was succeeded by Justice Uday Umesh Lalit. .[Read Speech]