A recent policy dialogue hosted by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy reignites the debate on judicial accountability, urging India to adopt a holistic performance evaluation system for judges. The conversation highlights the need to move beyond case disposal rates and embrace multidimensional metrics.
Key Highlights from the Discussion
Current evaluation focuses narrowly on quantity—number of cases disposed—ignoring quality, fairness, and courtroom conduct
Experts propose incorporating feedback from litigants, lawyers, and court staff to assess judicial temperament and integrity
Suggestions include periodic peer reviews, anonymized surveys, and digital dashboards for transparency
Concerns were raised about balancing independence with accountability, ensuring evaluations don’t compromise judicial autonomy
The Law Commission may revisit its 2006 recommendations on judicial performance indicators
As India’s judiciary faces mounting caseloads and public scrutiny, reform advocates stress that meaningful evaluation is key to restoring trust and efficiency.
Sources: The Hindu, Bar & Bench, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy