Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Sunday advocated for the establishment of integrated district court complexes across Haryana, modeled after unified judicial campuses in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at the inauguration of the Tower of Justice in Gurugram, the CJI emphasized that judicial infrastructure must evolve alongside rapid economic growth and changing litigation patterns.
Call for Integrated Judicial Campuses
The CJI proposed that future district court complexes be designed as integrated judicial campuses housing multiple forums—such as labour courts, family courts, consumer courts, and environmental courts—within a single precinct. Such complexes, he said, would significantly enhance convenience for litigants, lawyers, and all stakeholders.
He urged the Haryana government to extend full support in developing these complexes not only in Gurugram but across the state. The CJI noted that judicial infrastructure could no longer be viewed merely as construction but as an indispensable pillar of the constitutional promise of timely and effective justice.
Gurugram's Economic Transformation and Rising Litigation
Explaining why Gurugram deserves world-class judicial infrastructure, the CJI pointed to the city's extraordinary economic transformation, which has led to a corresponding rise in legal disputes. He observed that wherever commerce flourishes, commercial disagreements inevitably follow, making robust dispute-resolution mechanisms an institutional necessity.
According to the CJI, more than half of the Fortune 500 companies have offices in Gurugram, and over 1,500 companies and startups operate in and around the city. This emergence as a major commercial hub demands judicial infrastructure capable of responding to increasingly complex litigation.
Mounting Case Backlog
Drawing attention to the district judiciary's docket, the CJI revealed that nearly 24,000 cases, including around 1,000 commercial disputes, are pending before the district courts in Gurugram. Additionally, there are approximately 1 lakh cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act. These figures, he said, underline the pressing need to continuously strengthen judicial capacity and infrastructure.
The CJI described judicial infrastructure as the "first aid" available to every litigant entering the justice delivery system. Just as a patient expects immediate care at a hospital, a citizen approaching a court must find an institution equipped to respond promptly and effectively. He emphasized that judicial infrastructure is a matter of necessity, not luxury, if the constitutional guarantee of speedy justice is to have real meaning.
Inclusivity and Technology
The CJI laid particular emphasis on making court complexes more inclusive for women. Referring to a nationwide survey conducted with the help of the Supreme Court Bar Association, he said it revealed that in several places, even basic amenities for women advocates had been neglected for years. Every new judicial complex must provide dignified and adequate facilities for women, including properly designed common areas and essential amenities, which are integral to a modern justice delivery system.
He also highlighted the role of technology in reducing delays, noting that digital tools can meaningfully accelerate case disposal only when supported by appropriate physical infrastructure. The Tower of Justice, he asserted, has been equipped with modern technological facilities to facilitate greater use of digital processes in court functioning.
Growing Confidence and Future Demands
The CJI pointed out that the number of judicial officers increased during the period the Tower of Justice was under construction. Simultaneously, growing public confidence in the judicial system has resulted in a steady increase in litigation, with courts today dealing with several categories of disputes virtually unknown a decade ago.
Expressing confidence that future demands on the justice delivery system will continue to grow, the CJI said he is certain the Haryana government will continue extending full institutional support to strengthen judicial infrastructure in anticipation of emerging requirements.
Personal Milestone
For CJI Surya Kant, the inauguration also marked a personal milestone. He recalled participating in the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the project in January 2017 while serving as Chairman of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Building Committee. He described the completion of the Tower of Justice as the fulfilment of a long-cherished institutional vision that took shape through sustained efforts over the years.
