Newdelhi,Oct 10, 2026 14:04 ISTThe Supreme Court has constituted a standing committee on judicial well-being to establish a structured institutional mechanism that identifies and resolves issues impacting the professional and personal lives of judicial officers throughout the nation.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant formed the committee, which will be led by sitting Supreme Court judge Justice K V Viswanathan. The top court announced that this initiative was launched under the aegis of the Supreme Court of India in alignment with World Mental Health Day.
Alongside Justice Viswanathan, the committee features Dr. Savita Malhotra, former dean of PGIMER Chandigarh and former head of its psychiatry department; Rajat Mitra, a psychologist and co-founder of the Swanchetan Society for Mental Health; Supreme Court advocate-on-record Mrinal Kanwar; and Aarti Singh, Registrar (J) for the court's Centre for Research and Planning.
The high court noted that the establishment of this panel represents a vital step toward viewing judicial well-being as a fundamental component of an effective, independent, and sustainable justice delivery system. Officials highlighted that judicial officers frequently operate under intense conditions marked by heavy caseloads, extended working hours, intricate decision-making, administrative burdens, and emotionally demanding cases.
Acknowledging these occupational stressors, the Supreme Court created the committee to offer a reliable institutional framework designed to recognize and tackle challenges influencing judges. The administration emphasized that judicial well-being extends beyond individual health, directly impacting the overall efficiency, quality, and sustainability of the entire justice system.
The committee is structured to operate as a permanent institutional platform tasked with reviewing existing and emerging welfare challenges. Its duties will involve pinpointing areas needing institutional support, streamlining coordination for welfare programs, creating helpful guidelines, and routinely assessing initiatives designed to assist judicial officers. Through this effort, the Supreme Court aims to transition away from fragmented interventions and build a lasting framework supporting judicial health nationwide.