Many women District Judges have no washroom, we have to change district judiciary first: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud stressed on Monday that the district judiciary needs exhaustive reforms including on the infrastructure front. .While addressing an audience at his felicitation by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the CJI highlighted instances where many women district judges do not have access to washrooms. He noted that they leave home at 8 am and are only able to use facilities when they return home at 6 pm."I was told that women district judges have no washrooms and they leave home at 8 am and can use one only when they return home at 6 pm. For some the washrooms are away from the courtroom so when the judge has to go to the washroom, she has to pass by the undertrials who are sitting, which is very embarassing for a judge. We have to change the face of the district judiciary first and foremost," he said..He also deprecated the culture of subordination and hierarchy among judges which he said is a relic of our colonial past."District judges are not subordinate, they are just district judges. There have been instances when district judges stand up when High Court judges eat food, or even serve. This shows our colonial mindset," he said.He, therefore, called for a change in the mindset of judges of Constitutional courts."We have to change our mindset about how we perceive our district judiciary. We have to ensure that when we interact with district judiciary. The district judges stand in a row and bow and all this has to change to make it a more modern judiciary," he said..CJI Chandrachud went on to stress that district judiciary is the cornerstone of our judicial system and we must inculcate the system of self worth in them..He also said that a Chief Justice of India is only the "first among equals", and he aims to tap into the collective wisdom of the other judges of the top court. "There are judges from the bar who can help us with their experience is like Justice Narasimha. Justice Bela Trivedi has experience of district judiciary", he further explained. .Further, addressing the demands of the bar, the CJI said that they were reasonable. "I have a list of names in mind who can be good High Court judges and those who practice in Supreme Court. I will try to impress upon the High Court Chief Justices about the same .. of course not compromising the chance of High Court lawyers.".Justice Chandrachud also said that the process of listing cases before the Supreme Court had been made smooth by the former CJI UU Lalit, and he aims to continue it. "In listing process I aim to use technology so the element of human interface is reduced and we are trying to prepare Standard Operating Procedures so that it does not matter who is the Chief Justice of India and so that there is an institutional change.".However, he emphasised that the CJI is first a judge and has to fulfil the first purpose of this duty. Therefore, he made it clear that despite being told to devote more time to administrative work, he would continue to prioritse time for judicial work over the administrative tasks of CJI..[Read our live-coverage of the even here].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.