CJI Surya Kant Calls Retired Judges Stepwells Of Wisdom, Urges Structured Role After Retirement
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the Constitution belongs equally to every citizen and is not a privilege reserved for wealthy urban elites
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said that the continuing institutional value of retired judges, describing them as a “national resource” that must be preserved and meaningfully utilised to strengthen the justice delivery system.
Speaking at a seminar titled “The Bench Beyond Retirement:” in Jaipur, the CJI drew a metaphor from Rajasthan’s traditional stepwells (bawris), saying retired judges function like reservoirs of wisdom that sustain the system during periods of stress.
“Let us not allow our ‘bawris’ to dry up in neglect,” he said, stressing that decades of judicial experience cannot be replaced by committees or training modules.
Emphasising that judicial life does not end with retirement, the CJI remarked, “A judge never truly retires. Once a judge, always a judge.” He said former judges carry not only legal knowledge but also a deep understanding of human conditions, having dealt with disputes ranging from rural distress to complex commercial conflicts.
“They have seen the struggles of a farmer, the anxieties of entrepreneurs, and the silent battles within families,” he observed, adding that this lived experience makes them uniquely suited for continued institutional contribution.
The CJI criticised the conventional practice of ceremonial farewells followed by complete disengagement, calling it a “wasteful tradition” that overlooks a valuable judicial asset.
Outlining a structured framework for post-retirement engagement, he proposed four key roles for former judges:
-mediators and arbitrators in dispute resolution,
-legal educators at schools, colleges and grassroots institutions,
-pre-litigation counsellors to reduce case burden, and
-mentors and institution builders for young legal professionals.
He further stressed the need for formal institutional mechanisms rather than ad-hoc arrangements to integrate retired judges into the justice system with dignity and accountability.
Quoting poet Dushyant Kumar, the CJI highlighted public faith in the judiciary and the responsibility to preserve it through stronger institutions and experienced guidance.