{
  "id": 13976093,
  "title": "Courts must intervene whenever rights are violated: CJI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/courts-must-intervene-whenever-rights-are-violated-cji",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T14:26:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/courts-must-intervene-whenever-rights-are-violated-cji/article71575217.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant emphasized on Monday that courts must intervene whenever fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are violated. Speaking at the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) 33rd Foundation Day, the CJI stressed that the promises of dignity, equality, liberty, and justice must be translated into meaningful protection for citizens. Instead of merely measuring an institution by the number of cases handled, the CJI noted the NHRC should be assessed by its ability to help the voiceless. CJI Kant cited the NHRC's record of over 24 lakh registered cases and a disposal rate exceeding 98% over 33 years, highlighting that true measure of a human rights institution is the ability to be heard by those least able to make themselves heard. The CJI provided examples of an undertrial prisoner without access to an advocate, a migrant worker lacking proper documentation, an elderly person abandoned by family, an individual with a disability facing locked doors, and a woman working tirelessly yet remaining unseen by protective systems. CJI Kant acknowledged that while courts have a duty to enforce fundamental rights, people in remote areas often face access barriers. He noted that human rights commissions, like the NHRC, play a crucial role in bridging this gap by reaching out to those unable to speak up and taking up cases on their own initiative. The CJI emphasized that the Constitution is a promise, and the NHRC is one of its keepers, bringing grievances to light. The CJI also discussed the evolving scope of Article 21, emphasizing that the right to life and personal liberty has expanded into a guarantee of a dignified life encompassing health, food, shelter, livelihood, and a clean environment. He stressed the importance of safe and reliable drinking water as integral to human dignity and the right to life, urging governments to ensure access not just through household tap connections but also through a dependable supply of water. CJI Kant highlighted that the position of the Chief Justice is one of the country’s most powerful and influential yet vulnerable, facing daily tests and challenges not necessarily from those with noble intentions. NHRC Chairperson and former Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian agreed, thanking CJI Kant for attending the event and praising his acceptance of the invitation.",
  "summary": "Says NHRC must be judged by its ability to reach the most vulnerable and help them access the judicial system; “if the Constitution is the promise, the Commission is one of its keepers,” says CJI",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}