After facilitating the appointment of a record three women Supreme Court judges last year, Chief Justice N V Ramana said on Friday that more women judges do not reflect true inclusivity, which can only be achieved if all segments of society are adequately represented in the judiciary.
CJI Ramana told Telangana's judicial officers that the High Court chief justices should speed up the process of filling judicial vacancies and ensure that all parts of society are represented while recommending names for appointment as HC judges.
In the presence of Chief Justices Satisch Chandra Sharma and Prashant Kumar Mishra of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, respectively, the CJI requested Justice Sharma to accelerate the process of nominating names for filling vacancies in the Supreme Court.
"Only when you are healthy, can you continue to fulfil your judicial duties properly," Justice Ramana remarked, advising judicial officers to stay healthy both physically and psychologically and to spend enough time with their families.
"Your financial well-being is a crucial factor," the CJI stated of the long-awaited wage raise for judicial personnel. Only when you are financially secure will you be able to provide your best effort. Let me assure you that I have taken up the matter of pay commissions, and you will be hearing from me soon."
He did say, however, that the most important trait of a judicial official is the ability to carry out their duty without fear. "I am aware of the increasing physical attacks on judges. I am doing my utmost to prevent such occurrences. Directions were issued to improve the security of judicial officials both inside and outside Courtrooms," he said.
The CJI instructed court personnel to stay up with scientific and technological advances and to work outside of office hours to clear the backlog of cases that had accumulated over the pandemic's two years.
CJI Ramana stated that judicial personnel must create a pleasant environment in courtrooms to make stressed litigants feel at ease.
“Always remember the human aspects of the dispute. Law cannot be far from equity. It is important to project the human face of the Judiciary, whenever you have scope for invoking your discretion. Make the Court proceedings accessible. Consider the socio-economic background, language, education, etc. of the parties involved and deal with them suitably," he said.
"You must sensitize yourself to different vulnerabilities of parties. Minors, women, persons belonging to the weaker sections of the society, persons with disabilities, etc., might all have different requirements. Treat everyone with respect," he said.
