New Delhi (NVI): President Ram Nath Kovind today hailed the efforts of Indian Judiciary in pursuing the “cherished goal of gender justice” and described the Supreme Court as “pro-active and progressive”.
Adressing the valedictory session of the International Judicial Conference here, he said, “From issuing guidelines on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace two decades ago to providing directives for granting equal status to women in the Army this month, the Supreme Court of India has led progressive social transformation.”
He was giving his address on the topic ‘Judiciary and the Changing World’.
Kovind said landmark verdicts of the Supreme Court have strengthened the legal and constitutional framework of India and its bench and bar are known for their legal scholarship and intellectual wisdom.
“The recent move towards introducing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism is expected to reduce the burden on the court to a considerable extent,” the President said.
“Dispute resolution through mediation and conciliation would help resolve the problem amicably in an effective manner instead of resorting to a lengthy litigation process,” he added.
He said that courts in India have been adapting to new technologies and also considering the potential of artificial intelligence to speed up justice delivery.
He also expressed happiness that the judgments of the Apex court are being made accessible to common people in vernacular languages. He termed this effort as “extraordinary” as it caters to the linguistic diversity of the nation.
He also lauded judiciary’s role in harmonising environmental protection and sustainable development. President Kovind also highlighted the challenges faced by the judiciary with the evolution of information and technology saying that the questions like data protection and right to privacy have emerged.
