New Delhi: The Supreme Court has set up a standing committee to identify and address issues affecting the mental and physical well-being of judicial officers across the country.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant constituted the committee on Saturday, with sitting Supreme Court judge Justice K V Viswanathan as its chairperson. The initiative coincides with World Mental Health Day.
“In a significant initiative aimed at promoting the mental and physical well-being of judicial officers across the country, Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, has constituted a standing committee on judicial well-being under the aegis of the Supreme Court of India, coinciding with World Mental Health Day,” the top court said in a statement.
The committee includes Dr Savita Malhotra, former dean of PGIMER Chandigarh and head of its Department of Psychiatry; psychologist Rajat Mitra, director and co-founder of the Swanchetan Society for Mental Health; advocate-on-record Mrinal Kanwar; and Aarti Singh, Registrar (J) at the Supreme Court’s Centre for Research and Planning.
The Supreme Court said judicial officers often work under demanding conditions, including heavy caseloads, long working hours, complex decisions, administrative pressure and exposure to emotionally difficult and sensitive cases.
The court said the initiative recognises that the well-being of judges is closely linked to the quality and efficiency of the justice delivery system.
“Recognising these occupational demands, the Supreme Court has established the committee to provide a structured institutional mechanism for identifying and addressing issues affecting the professional and personal well-being of judicial officers,” the statement said.
The committee will examine existing and emerging challenges faced by judicial officers, identify areas where institutional support is needed, coordinate welfare measures and develop guidance to improve their well-being. It will also periodically review initiatives taken for their support.
The Supreme Court said the aim is to move beyond isolated measures and create a long-term framework to support judicial officers across the country.
“The objective is to move beyond isolated interventions and establish a sustained framework for promoting judicial well-being across the judicial system,” the statement said.