Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant has defended India's human rights record while addressing the global community at a legal forum in Stockholm, Sweden. Speaking on "Human Rights, the Indian Constitution and India as a Resilient Power," Justice Kant emphasized the importance of understanding each nation's human rights framework within the context of its own legal traditions and historical experiences. He advocated for global conversations that prioritize mutual understanding over one-sided criticism.

Justice Kant highlighted what he sees as a paradox, pointing out that some Western nations, while positioning themselves as guardians of human rights, often pursue rigid immigration policies and frequently resort to excessive force in domestic policing. He suggested that these nations, some with questionable human rights records, are targeting India.

In his address on July 11, 2025, Justice Kant traced India's legal heritage from the Vedic period to the modern Constitution, explaining that the country's approach to human rights is shaped by both ancient philosophies and modern constitutional values. He cited verses from the Rig Veda that affirm the inherent equality of all human beings and spoke of Dharma as a moral foundation upholding dignity, justice, and mutual responsibility. He noted the transition from indigenous justice systems to colonial rule, describing the British era as a systematic denial of rights, referencing the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Champaran oppression, and the Bengal famine. He stated that the colonial legal regime was designed to entrench power rather than protect rights.

Justice Kant also defended the role of institutions like the National Human Rights Commission and State Commissions. Referring to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, he asserted that these bodies possess real powers to investigate, summon, and initiate action, and are not merely symbolic.

Furthermore, Justice Kant addressed India's commitment to human rights and its response to refugees, cautioning that criticism, when unaccompanied by self-reflection or contextual understanding, can undermine the very values they claim to uphold. He stated that India remains committed to strengthening its human rights framework and evolving a more effective and humane response to the refugee crisis, drawing strength from its civilizational ethos of compassion, dignity, and shelter. He said that India has historically demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights, rooted in its constitutional framework and heritage, long before these conversations gained widespread global traction.

Justice Kant emphasized the need to recognize and respect the diversity of approaches to human rights. He said that meaningful progress lies not in uniformity, but in mutual understanding, where each nation is afforded the dignity of its own path, shaped by both heritage and contemporary responsibility. He stressed India's endeavor to harmonize its historical wisdom with contemporary, rights-based governance, ensuring that its human rights commitments are not only preserved but progressively realized.