Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has constituted a specialized committee headed by Supreme Court judge Justice KV Viswanathan to address the mental and physical well-being of judicial officers throughout the country, with the announcement coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
The newly formed Standing Committee on Judicial Well Being comprises four additional members, including medical professionals and legal experts, designed to assist officers struggling with massive caseloads, extended working hours, intricate decision-making, administrative demands, and emotionally taxing litigation.
Alongside Justice Viswanathan, the panel includes Savita Malhotra, former dean and professor at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh; psychologist and Swanchetan Society co-founder Rajat Mitra; advocate Mrinal Kanwar; and Aarti Singh, who serves as registrar at the Supreme Court Centre for Research and Planning.
A Supreme Court release noted that the initiative represents a critical milestone in acknowledging judicial well-being as a fundamental element of a strong, independent, and sustainable justice delivery framework. The panel is intended to offer a formalized institutional mechanism for recognizing and resolving personal and professional difficulties encountered by judges.
Prior to this development, the Supreme Court Centre for Research and Planning conducted extensive studies regarding occupational strain, burnout, infrastructure constraints, staff deficits, administrative duties, frequent transfers, and work-life balance struggles among judicial personnel. These research findings directly prompted the creation of the institutional committee.
According to the official release, the committee's duties will involve pinpointing areas that necessitate institutional intervention, enhancing collaboration on welfare policies, formulating relevant guidelines, and regularly evaluating the support programs implemented for judicial officers.
This move aligns with broader global movements recognizing judicial wellness as an institutional duty. Notably, the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being from July 2024 highlighted the necessity for systemic, evidence-based strategies to protect the health of judges, while the United Nations General Assembly designated July 25 as the International Day for Judicial Well-being in March 2025.
By establishing this dedicated framework for ongoing evaluation and support, the Supreme Court aims to foster a healthier, more accommodating professional atmosphere for members of the judiciary.