Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has advocated for greater use of technology to strengthen judicial systems and expand access to justice, suggesting a series of technology-driven reforms for Bhutan’s judiciary during his recent visit to the Himalayan nation.
Delivering a keynote address at the Royal University of Bhutan in Thimphu, the CJI emphasised that modern judicial systems must harness digital tools to ensure that courts remain accessible, efficient and people-centred in the 21st century.
Speaking on the theme “Access to Justice in the 21st Century: Technology, Legal Aid and People-Centred Courts,” the CJI highlighted that technological innovation is reshaping the way courts function and how citizens interact with legal institutions.
According to him, judicial reforms must move beyond merely digitising traditional systems and instead transform the delivery of justice itself. He stressed that digital tools should simplify legal processes and allow citizens to access courts more easily, regardless of geographical barriers.
The CJI pointed to India’s experience with initiatives such as virtual hearings, e-filing systems, and online dispute resolution platforms, which have expanded the reach of courts beyond physical courtrooms. These innovations, he said, demonstrate how technology can make legal systems more transparent and efficient while maintaining fairness and due process.
“People-Centred Courts” in the Digital Age
A key theme of the CJI’s address was the concept of “people-centred courts.” He argued that technology should be used to simplify legal complexity and ensure that justice is accessible even to those living far from judicial institutions.
In this context, he proposed practical reforms that could be particularly useful for a geographically diverse country like Bhutan. These included digital case management systems, electronic registries, mobile-friendly court platforms and local justice kiosks, which would allow litigants in remote regions to participate in hearings without travelling long distances.
He emphasised that the objective of digital reforms should be to bring courts closer to citizens. As he noted, justice should not remain confined within courtrooms but must reach communities and households.
While advocating technological advancement, the CJI cautioned against the risk of digital exclusion. Technological reforms, he said, must remain inclusive and sensitive to barriers such as language and internet access.
Highlighting the Indian judiciary’s initiatives, he referred to translation tools such as SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software), which help translate judicial decisions into regional languages to make them more accessible to citizens.
According to him, the real challenge lies in ensuring that technology strengthens fairness, transparency and public trust, rather than creating new forms of inequality in access to justice.
During the visit, the CJI also met Bhutanese leaders, including the country’s monarch Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, to discuss deeper cooperation in judicial and legal education initiatives.
He offered India’s support in developing best practices for digitisation and technological modernisation of Bhutan’s judicial processes, including potential collaboration on e-filing systems and digital judicial administration.
In addition, the CJI proposed internship and exchange opportunities for Bhutanese law students with the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts, aimed at strengthening cross-border legal education and institutional ties.
Reflecting on the evolution of court systems, the CJI noted that judicial work historically relied on handwritten pleadings, physical files and oral submissions. Over time, the global legal ecosystem has undergone a significant transformation with the integration of digital tools and data-driven processes.
In his view, technology should function as a “force multiplier” for the judiciary, enabling judges and lawyers to access case histories, precedents and hearing records more efficiently, ultimately leading to faster and better-informed decisions.
However, he stressed that technological innovation must complement not replace human judgment. Courts must remain guided by foundational values such as fairness, accountability, transparency and human dignity.
The CJI concluded by reiterating that the goal of judicial reform should be to democratise the justice system through technology, ensuring that courts remain accessible to ordinary citizens.
For emerging and developing legal systems alike, he suggested that the real promise of technology lies in bringing justice closer to people rather than requiring people to come to justice.
The address reflects a broader push within the Indian judiciary to promote digital justice initiatives and strengthen institutional collaboration across South Asia, particularly in areas such as judicial training, legal education and court technology.
