Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Supreme Court judge Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari said here on Saturday that the judiciary’s role must go beyond merely interpreting the law and it should ensure inclusive access to justice for all, especially the marginalized classes.
Justice Maheshwari was speaking after inaugurating the Western Regional Conference, organized by the National Judicial Academy in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the State Judicial Academy.
The event witnessed participation from Supreme Court and high court judges, along with judicial officers from the four western states, creating a platform for interstate legal dialogue and knowledge-sharing.
Focusing on the theme “Rising Caseloads and Judicial Deprivation in Courts (Western Region),” the two-day conference at Brilliant Convention Centre brought together legal luminaries from across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan to discuss critical challenges facing India’s judiciary.
Justice Maheshwari addressed the dual challenges of rising case pendency and the growing inaccessibility of justice for underprivileged sections.
He emphasized that the judiciary must embrace a larger constitutional responsibility not only to interpret laws but also to ensure that justice was inclusive, equitable and accessible.
He highlighted the need for institutional reforms rooted in constitutional morality, stressed the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and warned about the social costs of judicial delays.
He also noted the influence of social media on public perception of judicial processes and called for deeper introspection and innovation within the legal system.
Other notable speakers included Justice Satish Chandra Sharma (Supreme Court judge), who urged judges to remain fearless and impartial, and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva (chief justice, MP High Court), who emphasized the need for technology adoption, policy reform, and the use of AI to handle growing caseloads.
Former Supreme Court judge and NJA director Justice Aniruddha Bose stressed the importance of equipping judicial officers with ethical awareness, procedural efficiency, and technological skills, particularly in data-driven and AI-assisted legal decision-making.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Justice Vivek Rusia, administrative judge of the Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court.
