Justice Surya Kant, a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, recently emphasized the crucial need for a robust “performance evaluation” framework for judges. Speaking on Monday, September 22, 2025, he called for clear parameters and guidelines to effectively assess and guide the judicial workflow across the benches.
Justice Kant, who is slated to become the next Chief Justice of India following the retirement of current Chief Justice B.R. Gavai on November 24, clarified that his intentions were not to act as a “school principal.” Instead, he stressed the profound importance of self-reflection and accountability within every institutional structure.
These significant comments were made during a hearing for a bail petition related to a murder case originating from Jharkhand.
Justice Kant observed a notable disparity in judicial productivity: “There are judges who dedicate themselves day in and day out, achieving exceptional disposal rates. Conversely, there are judges who, for reasons we may not fully understand—be they valid or otherwise—struggle to deliver. This is often contingent on individual circumstances.”
He further elaborated on the challenge of applying a single yardstick for performance, noting that the rate of disposing criminal appeals, which often require extensive hearings, differs significantly from that of bail applications. Therefore, he argued, clearing one criminal appeal per day after thorough deliberation cannot be equated to the swift resolution expected for bail pleas.
“Judges must be fully aware of the responsibilities entrusted to them and are expected to deliver. This is a fundamental and legitimate expectation from the wider public,” Justice Kant asserted.
Concluding his remarks, Justice Kant urged every jurist towards continuous self-evaluation. He underscored that an accumulation of cases is unacceptable, and frequent adjournments are not a viable solution. Such delays, he warned, are not only demoralizing but can also be detrimental to justice. He implicitly critiqued judges whose names have unfortunately become associated with the practice of perpetual adjournments.
These statements from a senior Supreme Court judge are particularly pertinent as the Indian judiciary grapples with an immense caseload and a staggering backlog. Currently, the apex court alone faces a pendency of just over 88,000 cases.