Chief Justice of India Announces Supreme Court Expansion in Independence Day Speech

NEW DELHI: On the occasion of the 77th Independence Day on Tuesday, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud announced an ambitious plan to expand the Supreme Court with a new building to house 27 additional courts, 51 judges’ chambers, 4 Registrar Court Rooms, 16 Registrar Chambers, along with facilities for both lawyers and litigants.

The CJI said the expansion would be taken up in two phases.

At present, the Supreme Court has a total of 16 courtrooms and two registrar courts. The total judicial strength is 32.

In his address at the 77th Independence Day celebrations at the Supreme Court lawns, Chief Justice Chandrachud stressed on an “overhaul” of the court infrastructure on a priority basis to be necessary, in order to make courts more accessible and inclusive.

The country’s top judge said modernising of the judicial infrastructure would be given emphasis while embarking on the new project.

“We plan to expand the Supreme Court by constructing a new building to accommodate 27 additional courts, 51 judges’ chambers, 4 Registrar Court Rooms, 16 Registrar Chambers, and other requisite facilities for lawyers and litigants. This expansion is proposed in two phases,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

The Chief Justice did not confine his speech to just an announcement of the new infrastructure projects. The CJI also spoke on the importance of the role played by the judiciary in ensuring that “institutions of governance function within the defined constitutional limits”.

He also underlined that courts provide a “safe democratic space for individuals to seek protection of their rights and liberties”.

The CJI also highlighted how the Supreme Court has been the vanguard of institutional governance by increasing access to justice and promoting constitutional values.

“The past 76 years suggest that the history of the Indian judiciary is the history of the daily life struggles of the Indian people. If our history teaches us anything, it is this – that no matter is big or small for the courts,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said, while addressing a gathering of judges, lawyers and the public.

The Chief Justice said that the courts were merely performing their plain constitutional duty by examining and delivering judgments on disputes and grievances.

Explaining the proposed two-phase project for the expansion of the Supreme Court, the CJI said during the first stage, the court museum and annexe building would be demolished in order to construct a new building with 15 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) library, offices for the SCBA and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAoRA) office-bearers, canteen, women lawyers bar room and other facilities.

In the next or second phase, a portion of the existing court complex would be demolished for the construction of the second part of the new building, which will enable the accommodation of 12 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, registrar courts, and lounge for SCBA and SCAoRA.

Chief Justice Chandrachud also said, “The new building will reflect the constitutional aspirations, beliefs, and priorities of the Indian people, in addition to providing a space which facilitates access to justice.”

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