The Faded Gavel: Why I’m Worried About the State of Our Judiciary
The legal profession is often called a "noble" one. Growing up, we are taught to view the judiciary as the final fortress of hope—the one place where the common citizen stands equal to the powerful. But lately, walking through the corridors of our courts, that fortress feels like it's showing deep, structural cracks.
If we take an honest look at the last 10 to 15 years, there is an uncomfortable silence we need to break. The standards of our judicial system aren't just shifting; they are decelerating.
The "Canteen Talk" vs. The Pedestal
When you sit in the court canteen or talk to litigants waiting on wooden benches, the narrative has changed. It is no longer just about "seeking justice"; it’s about "surviving the system." As an advocate, I see the public’s perception dipping every single day. People don’t see the court as a place of swift redressal anymore—they see it as a labyrinth of endless dates and procedural exhaustion.
When a common man says, "Advocate Sahab, justice is only for those who can wait twenty years," it isn't just frustration—it’s a reflection of a broken promise.
The Invisible Crisis: Fighting a War Without Soldiers
We often blame the judges for the delays, but we rarely talk about the impossible conditions they work in. The reality is that our judiciary is trying to fight a massive war without enough soldiers.
The Manpower Drought: It’s not just about the lack of judges; it’s the lack of everyone. Many courts are running at half-capacity. We have a massive shortage of stenographers, clerks, and administrative staff.
The Chain Reaction: When there isn't a stenographer to type an order or a clerk to manage the files, the entire machinery grinds to a halt. You can have the most brilliant legal mind on the bench, but without a support system, that brilliance is buried under a mountain of paperwork.
The Quantitative Trap: Because the pendency is so high, the focus has shifted from the quality of justice to the disposal of files. When a judge has to deal with a cause list of 100+ cases in a single day, the human element—the tragedy and the struggle behind the paper—inevitably gets lost.
The Erosion of Ethics
I’ll be blunt: the talk in the corridors often touches upon the influence of money and power. While the majority of our system remains hardworking and honest, the growing perception of "manageability" in certain quarters has eroded the sanctity of the black coat. The professional ethics that once defined the bar and the bench seem to be diluting, replaced by a "get it done somehow" culture.
The Path Forward: More Than Just New Laws
We cannot afford to let the next decade mimic the last. Restoring the glory of the judiciary requires more than just digitizing files or passing new Acts; it requires a massive overhaul of resources and a return to our roots.
Appointments on War Footing: We need to fill vacancies for judges AND support staff immediately. A judge cannot be expected to be a researcher, a typist, and an administrator all at once.
Accountability & Transparency: We need to bring back a culture where merit and character outweigh "connections."
Humanizing the Process: We need to remember that every case number is a human life waiting for closure.
Final Thoughts
The judiciary is the spine of our democracy. If the spine weakens, the entire body collapses. It’s time we stop sugarcoating the reality. As officers of the court, it is our responsibility to ensure that the sound of the gavel represents authority and fairness, not just a hollow echo in a crowded, understaffed room.
Research & bibliography
National Crime Record
AI
Riyan khursheed
Advocate, Noida
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