Justice Pankaj Mithal, a retiring judge of the Supreme Court, warned that the growing judicial pendency threatens the lives and liberties of millions. Speaking at a farewell function organised by the Bar Association, he also cautioned against excessive reliance on artificial intelligence in legal practice.
Key Developments
- He described judicial pendency as a human story, not just a statistic; each pending file affects a family, an under‑trial or a commercial concern.
- He highlighted that constitutional courts now confront issues of governance, technology, liberty, economic regulation, social justice and constitutional morality.
- He stressed that infrastructure alone cannot cure delays; a disciplined institutional culture, efficiency and sensitivity are equally essential.
- He warned that unchecked use of artificial intelligence is leading to inaccurate pleadings, false citations and careless drafting.
- He urged lawyers to act as peacemakers, promoting reconciliation, affordable and simple justice – “sulabh, sasta and saral”.
Important Facts
- Born on 17 June 1961 in Meerut; enrolled with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in 1985.
- Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on 7 July 2006.
- Served as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from 4 January 2021 and of Rajasthan High Court from 14 October 2022.
- Joined the Supreme Court on 6 February 2023 and will retire on 16 June 2026.
- Conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in December 2025 by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala.
Exam Relevance
The speech touches upon several UPSC themes. In GS2 (Polity), the issue of judicial pendency reflects challenges in judicial administration and the need for institutional reforms. In GS3 (Economy), delayed justice can stall commercial disputes, affect investment climate and increase transaction costs. In GS4 (Ethics), the caution on artificial intelligence raises questions of professional responsibility, ethical use of technology and the role of the Bar in upholding standards.
Way Forward
- Expand the number of judges and support staff to reduce case backlog.
- Adopt robust case‑management software with built‑in checks to prevent AI‑generated errors.
- Introduce regular training for advocates on legal research ethics and AI literacy.
- Promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to divert suitable cases from courts.
- Strengthen the culture of the Bar Association by encouraging humility, accessibility and public service.