Not easy to be CJI; CJI Surya Kant works 17-18 hours a day: Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh

Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh recenly spoke about the demanding nature of the Chief Justice India's role.

He was among the dignitaries present for the inauguration of additional court buildings at the Madurai District Court campus and a guest house for the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant was also present at the event which took place on April 19, Sunday.

“It is not easy to be the Chief Justice of this great country. He (CJI Surya Kant) works 17 to 18 hours a day. (In Tamil) He goes to bed only at 3… He wakes up at 7 in the morning," Justice Sundresh observed.

Supreme Court Justices JK Maheshwari and R Mahadevan also participated in the event, alongside judges of the Madras High Court.

In his address,CJI Kant underscored the centrality of trial courts in India’s justice system, stating that while constitutional courts shape the law, the district judiciary gives it real meaning in the lives of ordinary citizens.

The CJI described the district judiciary as the lifeblood of the justice delivery system, noting that for a vast majority of citizens, district courts are both the first and often the only point of contact with the law.

“The Supreme Court and High Courts shape the law, but it is the district judiciary that gives it meaning in the daily lives of ordinary people,” the CJI observed.

He also commented on the importance of physical access to courts. Access to justice cannot remain a mere abstraction, he noted.

“Where the nearest courtroom is beyond a citizen’s practical reach, the denial of justice is no less real for being administrative over substantive,” he said.

Linking court infrastructure directly to constitutional guarantees, he said that each additional courtroom strengthens the State’s ability to fulfil its adjudicatory obligations. He added that the environment in which justice is administered shapes both efficiency and public confidence.

“A well-designed courtroom fosters discipline, promotes efficiency and lends institutional dignity to the process,” he remarked.

The CJI further highlighted that improving working conditions for judges and judicial officers is integral to improving the quality of justice, and not merely an administrative concern.

Justice JK Maheshwari emphasised that justice must be understood as a constitutional duty owed to citizens, observing that it is not a privilege but a sacred debt that the system must discharge.

He stressed that justice must remain impartial and rooted in fairness, invoking classical principles that require decision-making without fear or favour.

Justice R Mahadevan said that judicial infrastructure must remain dynamic and responsive to changing needs to ensure access to justice. He pointed out that factors such as the location of courts and availability of transport play a crucial role in a litigant’s decision to approach the judiciary.

“The idea of judicial infrastructure cannot be static; it must adapt to changing circumstances,” he said.

He added that the rising volume of litigation should be seen as a reflection of public trust.

“We must view the huge inflow of litigation as an expression of utmost faith reposed in the judiciary. The judicial functionaries wield judicial power , which is actually not a power but a pledge; a pledge to wipe off each tear caused by injustice," he remarked.

The Madras High Court Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari said that the new infrastructure was aimed at strengthening grassroots justice delivery and bridging the gap between the higher judiciary and litigants.

He noted that the Madurai district judiciary, established in 1813, is among the oldest in the country, and that the new complex with 18 court halls has been built at a cost of ₹166 crore.

“With improved facilities, this building serves as a bridge between the common man’s grievance and the constitutional promise of speedy justice,” he said.

He also spoke of the new guest house at the Madurai Bench, built at a cost of ₹17.6 crore, to accommodate visiting judges, calling it essential to support judicial functioning.