India's Judiciary Is Ramshakled, System Not Working: Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi Calls For Changes In Selecting Judges

In a scathing critique of the nation's judicial architecture, former chief justice of India (CJI) and incumbent member of the Rajya Sabha Ranjan Gogoi has called the judicial system 'ramshackled' and said that it is the rich and corporate world denizens who are better suited to take their chances in the court than the common masses, reports Times of India.

Calling on the members of the judiciary to take immediate steps for a roadmap to ameliorate the situation, Gogoi pressed that the system is not working for more than one reason and changes are needed in the way judges are selected and trained. Gogoi also asserted that the delay in appointment of judges is also one of the problems.

Gogoi remarked, "We want to have a $5 trillion economy but we have a ramshackled judiciary. In 2020, when the functioning of every organisation was at lower ebb, including judiciary, there was addition of 60 lakh cases at the subordinate judiciary and around three lakh cases in various High Courts and six-seven thousand in Supreme Court."

Gogoi pressed, "Time has come when we should have a roadmap. This is something for the judiciary to work out which is not being done." He also added that a robust judiciary is a must for attracting foreign investment in the country to sort out any commercial dispute in a timebound manner.

Gogoi said, "System has not worked. If you want a thriving economy, you must have a forum to decide commercial disputes. Nobody is going to invest unless you have a robust system. Where is the mechanism? Commercial Courts Act has brought within its purview every conceivable commercial dispute. But who is applying the law? The same judge who does other normal work. I do not think beginning has been made and I call judges to engage to make a roadmap."