Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said the judiciary must function like hospitals operating round the clock in order to address the “pain and aspirations” of ordinary citizens and deliver timely justice. Addressing an event organised by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on digital integration in the judicial system, the CJI stressed that courts needed to evolve into a system capable of providing immediate relief to people. “The time has come when the judiciary needs to address the aspirations, requirements, demands, pain and agony of the common man through an immediate relief giving system,” CJI Kant said. “For that, the judiciary needs to work like hospitals that function 24×7,” he added. The Chief Justice said technology and artificial intelligence would play a major role in improving the speed and efficiency of justice delivery in the country. Speaking at the programme titled “Fragmentation to fusion, Empowering justice via united digital platform integration”, CJI Kant also launched newly developed digital platforms of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Highlighting the role of technology in the judicial system, he said the Indian judiciary was committed to making optimum use of technological advancements and modern AI tools for the benefit of litigants. “Indian judiciary is committed to ensuring optimum utilisation of not only technological advancements that have been going on and which are integral part of our system since 1990, but also of latest AI designs and how we can use them for the benefit of the common man,” he said. Calling technology the most effective answer to judicial delays and wastage of court time, the CJI stressed the need to strengthen AI based judicial infrastructure across India. “We should think of deepening technology and AI based judicial architecture. Technology is the only effective answer to wasting judicial time,” he observed. Recalling the COVID 19 pandemic, the Chief Justice said Indian courts continued functioning during one of the most difficult periods and received global recognition for maintaining constitutional duties through virtual hearings and digital systems. “We did not close our courts,” he said while referring to the judiciary’s use of technology during the pandemic. CJI Kant also praised the Madhya Pradesh High Court for developing digital platforms and said similar reforms should eventually be expanded across the country. He further revealed that the Supreme Court has constituted a committee to examine how artificial intelligence can be integrated into the judicial system, especially to ensure faster disposal of pending cases. Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva also addressed the event.