Justice cannot thrive when falsehood is practiced: CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Supreme Court diamond jubilee

Justice cannot thrive when falsehood is rampant, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said on Tuesday while highlighting the challenges faced by the Indian judiciary..He was speaking as part of a full court which assembled to mark the 75th anniversary of the first sitting of the Supreme Court of India. .CJI Khanna highlighted three challenges which the institution faces at the moment. "While the Court's journey reflects remarkable evolution in rights and reach, three challenges demand our attention. First, the weight of arrears which continues to delay justice. Second, mounting costs of litigation threatens true accessibility. Third, and perhaps most fundamentally – justice cannot thrive where and when falsehood is practised. These challenges mark the next frontier in our pursuit for justice," said CJI Khanna. .CJI Khanna further stated that each decade of Supreme Court’s jurisprudence "serves as a mirror to our nation’s challenges." "Like rings in a mature tree that reflect its journey through different seasons, these judgments reflect not just legal evolution, but our country’s very pulse. What emerges is not an unmoving structure carved from sandstone, but rather a living, breathing institution. It has been responsive to the conscience of our democracy, adapting and evolving to embrace the complexities of each era while remaining rooted in the bedrock of constitutional values," he said. .Attorney General R Venkataramani opined that India's successful tryst with Constitutional rule of law for 75 years is a cause for celebration."Constitutional rule for 75 years without any serious breakdown is a thing to celebrate," he said..Supreme Court Bar Association president Kapil Sibal stated that courts have always responsive to the needs political environment and has sought to best preserve the constitutional vision of our founders despite the continuous stresses and strains in our chaotic democracy."Courts have left a mark on the protection of fundamental rights. Courts must find ways to address the backlogs. Power of argument must prevail over the argument of power, judiciary must eschew excessive secrecy and embrace being more open. Then 15 benches (of Supreme Court) do not become 15 different courts. Courageous is contagious and so is cowardice. Courts have always stood up for our hallowed democracy," Sibal said. .[Read live coverage]