Chandigarh: Parking for advocates and basic amenities for litigants are not luxuries, but essential components of the judicial delivery system, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Saturday.
A lawyer worried about finding a parking space cannot be expected to argue a case, cross-examine a witness, or draft pleadings with complete concentration, he noted after inaugurating a multi-level parking facility with a capacity for 1,200 cars and 500 two-wheelers at the District Courts Complex in Sector 43, Chandigarh.
The city held a special place in his life as he began his legal career from it, the CJI said, calling Chandigarh his “karmabhoomi”.
“Hisar may be my birthplace, but Chandigarh has been my karmabhoomi. My journey from struggle to success began in the streets of this city. Whatever I have achieved is because of the support, cooperation, guidance, and mentorship of my friends and colleagues here,” he added.
Infrastructure should never be viewed as an unnecessary expense, CJI Kant said, emphasising the importance of the newly inaugurated facility.
“There should never be a misconception that infrastructure additions are a luxury. Infrastructure is the backbone of every city and every society. Without basic amenities and facilities, the very survival of a city becomes difficult,” he remarked, as reported by The Indian Express.
The land had been earmarked for a multi-level parking project years ago, he said, congratulating the Chandigarh Administration for completing it.
Litigants, many of whom approach courts under immense stress, deserved basic civic amenities, CJI Kant said.
Courts should be developed on the lines of hospitals, where every visitor is assured essential facilities, he said, reiterating a vision he has been advocating since assuming office.
“Wherever I have gone since November last year, I have appealed that district courts and high courts should be developed like hospitals. Every citizen who comes seeking justice must at least receive basic amenities. The atmosphere should inspire confidence and strengthen the litigant’s faith in the judicial system,” he said.
The CJI said the need for multi-level parking was equally pressing at government hospitals, universities, schools, and other public institutions, particularly as vehicle ownership continued to grow faster than urban infrastructure.
CJI Kant also drew attention to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, saying that parking and infrastructure constraints there also required urgent attention.
“I would request the Chandigarh Administration to seriously consider expansion of the High Court, creation of additional facilities for advocates, including chambers, and a permanent solution to parking for the thousands of lawyers and litigants who visit the high court every day,” he said.
The CJI pointed to the steady increase in case filings, and said how the Supreme Court had witnessed nearly 75,000 fresh cases in 2024, around 82,000-83,000 in 2025, while filings this year were expected to cross one lakh.
“If there are no courtrooms, merely appointing more judicial officers will serve little purpose. Recruitment and infrastructure must go hand in hand so that justice can be delivered within timelines and the institutional response to pendency becomes more effective,” the CJI said.
