Overview
- At a Bar Council of Delhi felicitation on the Delhi High Court lawns, the Chief Justice called district courts the primary arena where citizens first seek enforcement of rights.
- He urged the Supreme Court and High Courts to incentivise practice in trial courts to strengthen the legal bar and correct the misbranding of these forums as “lower courts.”
- Addressing young lawyers, including NLU graduates, he asked them to begin in district courts before moving to appellate forums to learn drafting, framing of issues, and examination of witnesses.
- Citing his own start under a senior civil lawyer, he credited district-court training with the foundation for his later career.
- He warned that technology is diluting cross-examination skills and appealed to senior advocates to mentor juniors in core courtroom craft.