Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has called for the urgent adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to ease the mounting burden on courts, saying India must position itself as a global hub for commercial arbitration.
Speaking at the SIAC Annual India Conference on Friday, the CJI flagged the scale of pendency. He said there were over five crore pending cases. The figure was not just a statistic but reflected the hope and wait of millions of people. He stressed that courts alone could not handle the load. To free the courts from this burden, embracing ADR was the first choice, not the last resort, he noted.
The Chief Justice pointed out that institutions like SIAC could help India become a trusted centre for resolving international commercial disputes. It was important to make the process faster, more transparent and cost-effective. Arbitration saves time, saves relationships and gives momentum to the economy, he added.
The CJI urged judges, lawyers and the corporate sector to prioritise arbitration clauses in contracts. He also spoke about greater use of technology, increased participation of women in adjudication, and reforms in India’s legal framework, stating that the justice system of 21st century India must be fast, accessible and credible.
The conference brought together jurists, industry leaders and legal experts to discuss how India can emerge as a leading global arbitration destination. CJI Surya Kant concluded that reducing pendency was a collective responsibility of the Bar, Bench and business community.
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