Retired Judges Key to Strengthening ADR and Legal Awareness: CJI Surya Kant at RSLSA Conference in Jaipur

A one-day conference on “The Bench Beyond Retirement: Role of Retired Judges in Advancement of ADR and Awareness of Laws for Common Masses” was held on April 25, 2026, at the Constitution Club of Rajasthan in Jaipur. The event was organised by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) in collaboration with the Association of Retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts of India.

The programme was conducted under the leadership of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and Executive Chairman of RSLSA, and coordinated by Shri Hari Om Attri, Member Secretary, RSLSA.

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant attended as the Chief Guest, while Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, was the Special Guest of Honour. The event saw participation from sitting and former judges of the Rajasthan High Court, members of the Bar, and legal academia.

A notable highlight was the flagging off of the “Nyaya Ro Saathi” multi-utility vehicles by the Chief Justice of India. These vehicles, provided by the National Legal Services Authority, are aimed at expanding legal aid outreach to remote and underserved communities.

In his keynote address, Justice Surya Kant stressed that judicial responsibility extends beyond retirement, describing it as a lifelong commitment. He underscored that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) should be treated as an equally effective mode of justice delivery rather than a secondary mechanism. He also proposed the creation of a structured national framework, including a registry to engage retired judges as mediators, arbitrators, mentors, and educators.

The conference also featured the unveiling of a book and souvenir, along with the launch of URIN. The inaugural session included ceremonial proceedings such as the lighting of the lamp, felicitation of dignitaries, and presentation of the NALSA theme song.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, in his address, highlighted the importance of ADR in reducing judicial backlog and ensuring timely justice. He noted that retired judges can play a critical role in strengthening mediation, arbitration, and legal awareness initiatives.

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma outlined a forward-looking framework for integrating the expertise of retired judges into ADR systems, focusing on improving accessibility, affordability, and efficiency in justice delivery.

Former judges, including Justice K. L. Sharma, Justice N. K. Jain, and Justice V. S. Dave, emphasized the need for sustained engagement of retired members of the judiciary in advancing legal services and access to justice.

The conference also featured two technical sessions involving judicial and former judicial members such as Justice Ajay Rastogi (Retd.), Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, Justice Vineet Kumar Mathur, Justice Rajesh Tandon (Retd.), Justice Mohammad Rafiq (Retd.), Justice Ashok Kumar Jain, Justice Sanjeet Purohit, Justice Vineet Kothari (Retd.), and Justice Bhanwar Singh (Retd.). Discussions focused on strengthening ADR mechanisms, improving mediation practices, and enhancing legal awareness among the public.

The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony honouring former judges, followed by a vote of thanks by Shri Hari Om Attri and the National Anthem.