Media Release: Visit to Supreme Court of India by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon at the Invitation of Chief Justice of India

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon visited the Supreme Court of India from 2 February to 5 February 2023 at the invitation of the Honourable Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India. In connection with the commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the Indian Supreme Court, Chief Justice Menon was invited to deliver the inaugural Supreme Court of India Day Annual Lecture. 

2        Chef Justice Menon spoke on the Role of the Judiciary in a Changing World. In his lecture, the Chief Justice spoke about the “perfect long storm” of challenges facing judiciaries around the world, such as the increasing complexity of disputes, obstacles against access to justice, and the polarisation of societies. The Chief Justice said that judiciaries had a duty to respond to these challenges by refining the judicial role to include the tasks of building user-centric court systems, enhancing judicial competencies and promoting international judicial engagement. 

3        Chief Justice Menon and Chief Justice Chandrachud also had very fruitful discussions on institutionalising exchanges between the Supreme Courts of India and of Singapore and agreed to work towards the establishment of an annual exchange at which issues such as securing access to justice, technology and the law, judicial and legal education in a changing world and securing the rule of law could be jointly studied and addressed. Officials are working towards finalising these arrangements with a view to having the first such exchange later this year. 

4        During his visit, Chief Justice Menon also called on Her Excellency the President of India and on the Judges of the Delhi High Court. 

5       Speaking of his visit, Chief Justice Menon said: “I am deeply grateful to Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu, the President of India who received me, together with High Commissioner Simon Wong and Chief Executive (Office of the Chief Justice) Juthika Ramanathan, with great kindness and warmth and was most encouraging of our efforts to enhance access to justice. This was matched by the extremely generous and kind reception that was extended to our team by the Honourable the Chief Justice Dr D Y Chandrachud and the Honourable Judges of the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court of India has dispensed justice in India with great distinction over the course of more than seven decades and there is a tremendous amount we can learn from deepening our exchanges with this vital institution. I am greatly honoured to have been asked to deliver the inaugural lecture and look forward to institutionalising this relationship. I am also delighted to have been received by the Judges of the Delhi High Court. The court deals with many cutting edge commercial law issues and I look forward to further discussing the avenues for greater cooperation.”
 

Issued by: Singapore Courts