Ideas of India Chitrakshi Jain and Prashant Reddy T. on the Dysfunction in India's District Courts
Jul 17, 2025
Join legal scholars Chitrakshi Jain and Prashant Reddy T., co-authors of 'Tareekh pe Justice,' as they delve into the dysfunction within India's district courts. They discuss the opacity in judge evaluations and the challenges of judicial data. The duo critiques the integrity and accountability issues in the system, particularly the controversial practice of compulsory retirement for judges. They also highlight the flaws in judicial statistics and explore the pressing need for transparency and reform, underscoring the vital role of district courts in upholding justice.
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Centralized Dysfunction in District Courts
- India's district courts handle most criminal, civil, and family law cases, but with significant jurisdictional and procedural limitations.
- The judicial hierarchy is very centralized, with district judges controlled by high courts, affecting autonomy and local justice.
Judge Incentives Undermine Justice
- The standard capacity argument for more judges misses how judges' incentives and treatment severely impair justice delivery.
- Evaluations and transfers create insecurity and fear among district judges, undermining effective judicial functioning.
Bail Fear Reflects Judicial Chilling
- Judges are fearful of granting bail due to opaque and harsh disciplinary actions despite lack of clear guidelines on bail decisions.
- This chilling effect results from arbitrary evaluations that lack procedural fairness and transparency.