‘Guide juniors on the right path’ — Justice Ramana’s message to the bar on last working day

The ex-CJI also calls for adopting modern technology tools and artificial intelligence to address the "huge challenge" of pendency of cases.

Justice N.V. Ramana (left), CJI Uday Lalit (center), and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (right) during the farewell ceremony organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at Supreme Court in New Delhi | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Terming pendency of cases a “huge challenge”, outgoing Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana on Friday expressed regret for not being able to pay much attention to issues of listing and posting of matters for hearing in the Supreme Court.

Justice Ramana, who demitted office Friday, said there is a need to deploy modern technology tools and artificial intelligence to find a solution. “Even though we tried developing some modules, because of the compatibility and security issues, we could not make much progress,” he said.

He said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the priority was running of the courts and unlike commercial establishments, “we cannot secure the technological tools from the market directly”.

“We have to admit the fact that the pendency is a huge challenge before us. I must admit that issues of listing and posting of matters is one of the areas on which I could not pay much attention. I am sorry for that,” he said. “We are busy in fire-fighting on all days.

He said unless the bar was willing to extend its whole-hearted cooperation, it would be difficult to bring in necessary changes. “The juniors who enter the profession look up to the seniors as their role models. I request all the seniors to guide them to be on the right path,” he said.

ThePrint’s national photo editor Praveen Jain documented Justice Ramana’s last day at the chamber, followed by his farewell event.

Justice N.V. Ramana (left) greets CJI Uday Lalit (center), and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta (Right) during his farewell ceremony organised by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), at the Supreme Court in New Delhi | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice N. V. Ramana after his speech at the farewell ceremony | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana, CJI Uday Lalit and other judges during a group picture at the Supreme Court in New Delhi | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

SC judges pose for a group picture at the Supreme Court | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana with women judges outside the Supreme Court  | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

(From left to right) Chief Justice of India Uday Lalit, outgoing CJI Ramana, and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud  | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana greets Supreme Court judges and other dignitaries after his speech | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana greets advocates before he leaves the top court | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana is felicitated by his well-wishers at his residence in New Delhi | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Justice Ramana leaves for his residence | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Inputs from PTI