CJI urges steps to boost trust in High Courts

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged the adoption of measures that would raise public trust in High Courts as the primary venue for constitutional relief, speaking at the inauguration of the Kerala High Court's platinum jubilee in Kochi on November 1. He said the courts must examine how quickly they can spot urgent cases and make case‑listing clearer and more predictable. He suggested exploring technology to help prioritize matters and stressed that a litigant’s right to timely justice should not hinge on travelling to the national capital. Kant affirmed that the courts will stay open to the vulnerable, respond to acute human distress and stick firmly to constitutional principles. He highlighted that High Courts are close to everyday concerns, understanding local languages and the impact of government actions on fishermen on the Malabar coast, farmers in Wayanad, or workers in Kochi, making them well‑placed to handle related constitutional questions. The ceremony featured Supreme Court judge Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal as guests of honour, while Kerala High Court chief justice Soumen Sen presided. Speakers included Judge A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, Advocate General K. Jaju Babu, Additional Solicitor General P. Sreekumar and KHCAA president Peeyus A. Kottam. P. Balakrishna Menon, the 100‑year‑old lawyer who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest practising legal career, received a life membership in the KHCAA and launched a documentary on two centuries of Kerala’s judicial history.## Context High Courts serve as the first stop for citizens seeking constitutional remedies, and their proximity to local issues helps them address region‑specific disputes more effectively.