Public trust in India's judiciary is declining

Former Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana stated that public trust in the judiciary is declining. He spoke during a law event called Justice Unplugged in Chennai, organized by VIT School of Law and The Hindu. Ramana pointed out that many people feel hesitant to approach courts due to various concerns. People have raised issues like delays in the legal process, lack of access, and inadequate infrastructure. They also worry about the criminal justice system and rising false cases. Ramana stressed the need for making the legal system more accessible, especially for marginalized communities. He proposed that the legal system should be "Indianized," allowing justice to be administered in local languages. This, he believes, would help litigants understand court proceedings better and regain control over their disputes. Justice Ramana also highlighted that the judiciary does not truly reflect India's diversity. He called for more judges from various social and economic backgrounds to improve the system. He noted the low number of women in the judiciary, with only two out of thirty-three Supreme Court judges being female. Additionally, he criticized the nepotism seen in judicial appointments. Influential connections often give unfair advantages to some individuals in their careers, an issue that the 30th Law Commission Report also noted. Ramana believes it is crucial to address this problem to create a more equitable system.