Rule of Law in India in Spotlight at World Justice Forum, 2025
Warsaw, Poland: Former Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur highlighted concerns surrounding judicial independence and advocated for essential judicial reforms in India during his participation at the World Justice Forum, held in Warsaw from June 24-26. Participating in a distinguished panel titled “Strengthening Accountability through Rule of Law Reforms in the Asia Pacific,” Justice Lokur joined international legal experts to address pressing challenges facing judiciaries across the region.
Justice Madan Lokur, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of India, was joined on the panel by Nozomi Iwama, Deputy Director General of the Japan International Cooperation Agency; Jaewoo Jung, a Judge from South Korea; Karimov A. Nishanovich, Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan; and Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice. The conversation was moderated by Srirak Plipat, the World Justice Project’s Asia Pacific Regional Director.
In his opening remarks, Justice Lokur voiced concern regarding India’s ranking at 79th among 142 countries in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, underscoring that such a ranking raises serious alarms about the state of judicial independence and rule of law in India. This ranking was published soon after the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite sent a detailed communication to the Government of India about systemic concerns around independence and impartiality of judges in India, including in the Supreme Court.
Lokur emphasized, “Independence of the judiciary is of utmost importance. It has been recognized as one of the essential features in the basic structure of our Constitution.” Expressing concern over governmental interference in judicial appointments, he highlighted instances where recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium have been stalled without sufficient cause.
“We all need to stand up for the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the legal fraternity,” Justice Lokur urged the international audience, stressing collective responsibility to uphold these essential democratic principles.
Citing a notable example, Justice Lokur referred to a recent recommendation by the Supreme Court of India for the removal of a judge, following a troubling discovery of a substantial amount of burnt cash at his residence. “Judicial corruption erodes public faith in the legal system and poses a significant threat to the rule of law,” he emphasized. He advocated for establishing independent and transparent mechanisms to address judicial corruption effectively.
Justice Lokur pointed to politically motivated failures to act against corruption, stating that selective executive inaction undermines judicial impartiality and erodes democratic values.
“The executive in India frequently fails to act against judges deemed close to their ideology, creating a dangerous precedent and severely impacting judicial independence,” Justice Lokur warned.
Additionally, Justice Lokur addressed the perennial issue of case backlog within the Indian judicial system. Recognizing the enormity of the challenge, he highlighted proactive judicial measures aimed at reducing pendency, including increased use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. These approaches have demonstrated potential to significantly reduce caseloads and ensure timely access to justice for citizens.
The panel discussion also provided an essential platform for sharing experiences and strategies to bolster rule of law across Asia Pacific nations. Contributions from international counterparts enriched the dialogue, with Justice Jung of South Korea being particularly frank about cases of corruption in both the executive and judiciary in his country. Panelists underscored that issues of judicial accountability and independence are indeed global concerns requiring shared commitment and cooperation.
Justice Lokur’s participation at the World Justice Forum underscores India’s ongoing challenges and the urgent need for substantial judicial reform. His advocacy resonated strongly with international experts, highlighting critical areas where India must strengthen its judicial independence, combat corruption effectively, and address administrative bottlenecks to uphold democratic governance and the rule of law.
South Asia Justice Campaign
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