Context:

• India's justice delivery system has transformed over the past decade through legislative reforms, digital innovation, institutional strengthening, and improved access to justice.
• These reforms are taken within the broader vision of Ease of Justice and the goal of achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.

Justice as a Pillar of Good Governance:

• Justice forms the foundation of a civilized society by fostering trust, inclusion, and social stability.
• A robust justice ecosystem must not only guarantee access to justice but also contribute to citizens' ease of living.
• The government's reform agenda seeks to achieve this through a three-dimensional framework:
  • Ease of engagement for litigants
  • Ease of working for judges and advocates
  • Ease of understanding for citizens

Enhancing Access to Justice for Citizens:

• Expanding legal aid and pre-litigation support: Several initiatives have made legal services more affordable and accessible, especially in rural and remote regions.
• For example,
  • Tele-Law provides free pre-litigation legal consultations through digital platforms. Over 11.2 million beneficiaries have availed legal assistance under the scheme.
  • Nyaya Bandhu promotes pro bono legal services under the Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice (DISHA) framework.
  • E-filing services and e-Seva Kendras have simplified interactions between litigants and courts.
• These initiatives aim to reduce procedural barriers and democratize access to justice.

Strengthening Judicial Infrastructure:

• Improving the working environment of courts:
  • Recognizing that subordinate courts are the first point of contact for most citizens, significant investments have been made in judicial infrastructure.
  • For example, court halls increased from 15,818 (2014) to 22,712. More than ₹9,400 crore has been released since 2014 for integrated court complexes.
• Digital transformation through e-Courts:
  • The e-Courts Phase-III Project seeks to establish end-to-end digital courts, paperless judicial processes, and AI-enabled justice delivery systems.
  • Supporting innovations include video conferencing facilities, virtual courts, and live-streaming of court proceedings
  • These measures enhance transparency, efficiency, and public accessibility.

Making Justice Understandable and Inclusive:

• Leveraging technology for linguistic accessibility:
  • In a multilingual country like India, ease of understanding is critical. Key initiatives include:
    • Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS) for translation of judgments.
    • Bhashini, an AI-powered language technology platform.
    • Translation of Supreme Court judgments into 18 Indian languages.
  • Data transparency: The National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) provides public access to information on more than 340 million court orders, enhancing transparency and evidence-based judicial administration.

Modernisation of Criminal Justice:

• Integration of digital criminal justice platforms: The newly enacted criminal laws have been supported by technological integration among e-Courts, e-Prosecution, e-Prisons, e-Forensics, and CCTNS.
• Nyaya Shruti platform:
  • The platform enables virtual appearances, digital recording of witness testimonies, and instant transmission of digital bail orders to prisons
  • This reduces delays in prisoner release and improves procedural efficiency.

Expanding Judicial Capacity:

• Increase in judicial strength, to address pendency and improve case disposal.
• For instance,
  • The High Court sanctioned strength increased from 906 to 1,122 judges.
  • Supreme Court strength rose from 31 to 34 judges in 2019, and subsequently to 38 judges.
  • During the last 12 years, 1,175 High Court judges and 77 Supreme Court judges were appointed.
• The appointments reflect efforts to strengthen judicial capacity and representation.

Improving Business Environment and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):

• Legal simplification:
  • The government has reduced more than 40,000 compliances, and repealed 1,725 obsolete colonial-era laws.
  • These measures support the ease of doing business and reduce regulatory burdens.
• Promoting ADR:
  • India is increasingly positioning itself as a global ADR hub through:
    • Strengthened arbitration laws.
    • Establishment of the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC).
    • Enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023.
  • At the 2026 BRICS Justice Ministers' Meeting, India played a key role in the adoption of the Gandhinagar Declaration, which promotes cooperation in mediation and arbitration.

Conclusion:

• A modern justice system must combine constitutional values with technological innovation, ensuring that justice remains accessible, affordable, and citizen-centric.
• As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, sustained judicial reforms will be essential for strengthening the rule of law, improving governance outcomes, and deepening public trust in democratic institutions.