New Delhi: Justice Surya Kant, the designated 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI), is set to take his oath on November 24, succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai. In anticipation of assuming office, Justice Kant addressed concerns about online trolling and outlined his priorities for the judiciary.

Justice Kant, appointed as CJI on October 30 by President Droupadi Murmu, emphasized that online comments and criticisms would not sway him. "Frankly speaking, I call social media 'unsocial media' and I do not feel pressured by online comments," he stated, adding that he remained unperturbed by such commentary throughout his tenures in the High Court and Supreme Court. He acknowledged that fair criticism of judges and judgments is always acceptable.

During an informal interaction with the media at his residence on Saturday, Justice Kant articulated his primary focus as CJI: tackling the extensive backlog of cases in Indian courts and promoting mediation as an alternative dispute resolution method. He described mediation as a potential "game changer". Justice Kant noted the Supreme Court alone has over 90,000 pending cases. Reports indicate that more than 4.6 crore cases are pending across all of India's courts.

Justice Kant expressed optimism about addressing the backlog, not only in the Supreme Court but also in High Courts and district courts across the country. He intends to identify the root causes of pending cases in the apex court that consequently hold up matters in lower courts. He also plans to examine long-standing cases. Justice Kant also pointed out the importance of High Courts as constitutional courts and that it is a good practice for litigants to approach the High Courts before moving to the Supreme Court.

Highlighting mediation, Justice Kant referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent speech emphasizing its importance. He noted that several Indian private multinational corporations, banks, and insurance companies have approached the Supreme Court, seeking mediation training for their employees to facilitate in-house dispute resolution and avoid lengthy litigation. He advocated for the cultivation of a mediation culture within government institutions as well. In one example, Justice Kant cited a case where one of his judgments disposed of around 1,200 cases related to land acquisition in Delhi.

Addressing the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the judicial system, Justice Kant acknowledged some apprehension surrounding its use and the extent of its introduction. He stated that while AI offers great solutions, its challenges must be addressed. He stressed the need for a holistic view of technology in the judiciary.

Justice Kant also mentioned that he maintains an active lifestyle, walking for approximately 50 minutes daily, irrespective of weather conditions.

The swearing-in ceremony on November 24 at Rashtrapati Bhawan will be attended by Chief Justices and judges from foreign countries including Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Brazil. Justice Kant is set to retire on February 9, 2027, upon reaching the age of 65, marking a tenure of 15 months as CJI.