Judicial Power with Purpose: CJI Gavai’s Message at CAT Conference Strikes a Broader Chord
(By: Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi, 20, September, 2025 – Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai on Saturday emphasized the need for judges to exercise their judicial powers with humility, restraint, and a deep sense of responsibility. He was addressing the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), where members of the judiciary, tribunal officials, and legal luminaries gathered to deliberate on administrative justice and judicial reforms.
“As Judges you must also accept the position that both Judges as well as lawyers are like two wheels of the golden chariot of justice, non-superior non-inferior. Unless both the judges and lawyers work together the institution of administration of 15 justice which exists for the large citizen of the Country cannot function properly.”
In his keynote address, the CJI highlighted the immense trust and faith reposed in the judiciary by the public and cautioned that this power must never be misused. “The authority we wield as judges comes with an equally great duty to act with fairness, compassion, and integrity,” Justice Gavai remarked.
““We need leaders not in love with money 16 but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the pressing urgencies of the great cause of freedom.”
Expressing concern over the conduct and accountability of both judicial and quasi-judicial officers, the CJI underscored the importance of ethical behaviour and impartiality in preserving the credibility of the justice delivery system. He noted that tribunals such as CAT play a pivotal role in resolving service matters of government employees and must ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to be done.
“As Judicial officers, as the Judges, as the Members of the Tribunal we wield immense power. And you must carry this power with the utmost humility and responsibility. All litigants who appear before us do so with the faith that they will receive justice before you and your judgment will not be coloured. I urge you to honour this responsibility, not just within official spaces, but outside as well. In many ways, our roles are those of a leader; you will shape the lives of several thousand citizens through the outcomes that we determine, thereby also affecting the faith of the citizens in the country’s judiciary.”
The conference also discussed capacity building, judicial infrastructure, and procedural reforms to strengthen tribunals and expedite the resolution of cases. The CJI’s remarks are expected to ignite wider discussions on judicial ethics and institutional reforms in the coming months.
He further urged judges to treat his remarks not as criticism but as opportunity for collective reflection and innovation to strengthen
