Democracy not just about numbers: CJI Chandrachud

Thimpu : Democracy is not just about numbers, chief justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud has empahsised, underlining the foundational role that constitutional accountability plays in a democracy that transcends mere electoral majorities.
Democracy is not just about numbers, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud has emphasised, underlining the foundational role that constitutional accountability plays in a democracy that transcends mere electoral majorities.
In an address at the Bhutan Distinguished Speakers’ Forum/JSW Lecture Series on Wednesday evening, the CJI offered a comprehensive vision for judicial legitimacy that extends far beyond numerical majorities, as he spoke on the theme of “Judicial Legitimacy through Accessibility, Transparency, and Technology: The Indian Experience.”
Democracy is not just about numbers…while popular majorities define who is in government, the task of ensuring democratic accountability is a wider constitutional project,” said justice Chandrachud as he pointed to the Supreme Court of India’s mandate to uphold this accountability, framing constitutionalism as a counterbalance to mere electoral majoritarianism.
Noting that constitutionalism goes hand in hand with democracy, the CJI said that the Supreme Court’s role in India is pivotal in maintaining this balance. “Constitutionalism is based on the desirability to be governed by the rule of law rather than arbitrary legal systems. Indian constitutionalism manifests itself in the wide-ranging powers of the Supreme Court. Described as one of the most powerful constitutional courts in the world, the Indian Supreme Court shoulders that much heavier an obligation towards the people of the country,” he added.
“We are responsible as apex courts of democratic countries to bolster public trust in the judiciaries of our countries,” he said, adding that it falls upon the apex courts to mediate both the state’s obligations toward citizens and the mutual rights of individuals within the society.
Public trust, according to CJI Chandrachud, is not only essential but foundational to the judiciary’s role in society. He said that this trust extends beyond mere obedience to court orders; it pertains to the public’s perception of the judiciary as a reliable, impartial, and accessible institution.
“Public trust is not only about the court’s legitimacy, that it is the court’s moral right to command obedience or allegiance. It is about the broader function of the courts as public-oriented institutions,” he underscored.
Stressing that transparency is a key ingredient in fostering public trust, he pointed out that the Supreme Court has embraced live-streaming of significant constitutional cases to increase public engagement. By broadcasting these proceedings on YouTube, the court invites the public to witness judicial deliberations firsthand, he added.
“Sunlight is not only the best disinfectant; it also begets public trust. It helps us keep our house in order, it serves as an internal check on the functioning of the courts across the country. It ensures that our institutions are better-managed and use their resources effectively. Measures such as live-streaming have helped foster internal efficiency, accountability and institutional stability,” the CJI said.