CJI's Committee Submits Blueprint for India's Judicial Infrastructure Modernisation

The Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee, a high-powered body constituted by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, formally submitted its interim report on August 31, 2026, outlining a comprehensive roadmap for the modernization of courts across India. The report was presented to the Chief Justice on Monday, August 31, 2026, aligning with the committee's stipulated deadline. CJI Surya Kant had formed this pivotal committee on May 12, 2026, with a clear mandate to address the critical deficiencies in judicial infrastructure nationwide. The committee was tasked with examining the intricate infrastructure requirements of the justice delivery system and recommending robust measures to significantly improve court facilities and overall working conditions for all stakeholders. Headed by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, the committee comprises a distinguished panel of legal and administrative experts. Its members include Justice Debangsu Basak of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan of the Bombay High Court. Further strengthening its composition are Satinder Pal Singh, Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), and Bharat Parashar, the Supreme Court Secretary General, who also serves as the Member Secretary of the committee. According to official statements released by the Supreme Court, the interim report provides a detailed blueprint aimed at modernizing court infrastructure across the entire country. A central focus of this blueprint is to secure substantial governmental funding to effectively address the long-standing infrastructural shortcomings that plague the Indian judiciary. The judiciary is reportedly considering seeking an allocation in the significant range of ₹40,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore from the government for these crucial infrastructure development and technological modernization projects. The committee's extensive mandate encompassed several key areas vital for the improvement of the justice system. It was tasked with identifying specific infrastructure constraints that impede the efficient functioning of the justice delivery system. Furthermore, it was charged with recommending essential facilities required not just by judges, but also by court staff, lawyers, litigants, and other visitors to court premises. Recognizing the increasing importance of technology in modern legal systems, the committee was also specifically tasked with recommending measures for the comprehensive computerization of courts as a vital component of the ongoing e-Courts initiative. This includes expanding citizen-centric services designed to make justice delivery more inclusive and accessible, and crucially, proposing strategies to bridge the persistent digital divide that affects many parts of the country. Another significant aspect of the committee's work involved examining measures for the establishment of modern court complexes. This goes hand-in-hand with improving the working conditions for judicial officers and administrative staff, with the overarching objective of enhancing the overall efficiency of the justice delivery system. The aim is to create environments that are conducive to speedy and fair justice, alleviating the immense pressure currently faced by the judiciary due to inadequate facilities. The formation of this committee and the submission of its report come against a backdrop of persistent concerns regarding India's judicial infrastructure deficit. Previous Chief Justices, including N.V. Ramana, have highlighted the grim realities, such as nearly 20% of judicial officers lacking proper courtrooms and a significant number of court premises lacking basic amenities like separate toilets for women or purified drinking water. A Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice had also previously flagged the slow pace of expenditure and utilization of funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary. The interim report's submission marks a significant step towards translating these recommendations into a structured, costed funding proposal, which is intended to be presented to the Union Government. The report will specifically be presented to Sanjeev Sanyal, a Member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, for incorporation into government funding plans, underscoring the high-level attention this initiative is receiving. While the exact details of the specific infrastructure projects, funding requirements, or detailed recommendations contained within the interim roadmap have not been publicly disclosed by the Supreme Court, the initiative itself signifies a critical push to strengthen judicial infrastructure. This move is seen as essential for reducing case pendency, improving access to justice, and enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Indian judiciary, which is grappling with over four crore pending cases across various courts. The roadmap aims to address not just physical infrastructure but also the digital backbone, ensuring that the Indian judiciary is equipped to meet the demands of a modern justice system and serve its citizens more effectively. The focus on government funding and a comprehensive blueprint suggests a concerted effort to bring about a fundamental shift in how judicial infrastructure is planned and maintained in India.

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