Dealing with pendency of cases, promoting mediation will be my priorities as CJI: Justice Surya Kant

With regard to the issue of social media trolling of SC judges, he said, he has never been under pressure at any point of time during his entire career due to social media trolls.

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India-designate Justice Surya Kant on Saturday said his priorities would be to reduce the pendency of cases and focus on promoting mediation for the resolution of disputes.

“My foremost agenda is to reduce arrears. Two things are my priorities. The number of cases has crossed 90,000 in the Supreme Court at present. I must target reducing pendency depending on the optimal utilisation of judges. Mediation can be a key to the solution,” he said in an informal interaction with reporters at his residence here.

Justice Kant also said he would prioritise 30-year-old cases, emphasising at the same time on setting up more constitutional-bench matters.

“I will be setting up constitutional benches on priority to decide on such questions of law because of which high courts and lower courts are unable to make a decision,” he said.

He also stressed mediation, saying it could be a game-changer and a solution to most woes. “The entire country is talking about mediation today. Mediation has really picked up momentum. I think mediation is the need of the hour,” he said.

With the government being the biggest litigator, Justice Kant said he would try to persuade it and its agencies to come forward for mediation.

As for the issue of social-media trolling of SC judges, he said he had never been under pressure at any point in his entire career due to social media trolls.

“I don’t think a judge or the CJI comes under pressure due to social media or ‘unsocial media’. I never carry any burden from these people. Just ignore them. Just focus on work,” he said.

On the issue of the centralisation of HC benches, he said these were somewhat sensitive issues and didn’t come under the jurisdiction of the court.

On the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the CJI-designate said it was a grey area.

“We will have to look at the boundaries; how much AI we need in the judicial process. We will take a holistic and comprehensive view and talk to the bar (advocates) in this regard,” he said.

Justice Kant is set to assume charge as the 53rd CJI on Monday. He will demit office on February 9, 2027.