Report
The voices heard by Constitution Benches
Report content
This article was published in Bar & Bench on 21st March 2025. The article is part of a series by the JALDI Initiative analyzing the significance and functioning of Constitution Benches at the Supreme Court.
Authors
Jyotika Randhawa
Senior Resident Fellow
At JALDI, I have worked on engagements with the National Court Management Systems’ Human Resource Sub-committee; and the Telangana State Judicial Academy (POCSO and Judicial Data Management training sessions). Other projects that I have worked on are Re-imagined Civil Rules of Practice (process re-engineering); Differentiated Case Management for the Indian Judiciary (case management, process re-engineering); and the Constitution Bench Pendency Portal (data analysis, assessing courts’ capacity). I have previously provided research assistance for the report ‘A Decade of POCSO: Developments, Challenges, and Insights from Judicial Data’ (assessing courts’ capacity). I have completed my B.A.LLB. from ILS Law College, Pune in 2020 and obtained my Master’s in Social Work in Criminology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2022. My vision for the Indian judiciary entails a system that is accessible to all, down to the very vulnerable sections of the society. The judiciary must adopt a holistic approach and work in tandem with ancillary institutions such as legal aid clinics, social workers, and the Juvenile Justice System to be able implement effective justice. When not working, I enjoy reading, sketching and spending time with my cats.
Shruthi Naik
Senior Resident Fellow and Team Lead
At JALDI, I work on research and projects focused on improving case management, reducing delays in the progress of cases, and improving access to justice. Since 2016, I have worked extensively on access to justice and judicial policy reform. I have written and contributed to a number of data-driven reports on the functioning of the judiciary, worked closely with the judiciary and government to help improve the delivery of justice, conducted a large household survey, and edited a book on the impact of judicial delays. My areas of interest include access to justice, inequality, gender, and accountability in governance. I received a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in 2015 and a Master of Public Policy from the Hertie School, Berlin in 2023. Before joining Vidhi, I worked with the RefMig (Refugees are Migrants) project in Berlin, DAKSH, and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. My dream for the Indian judiciary is to make it efficient and responsive to the needs of all citizens, so that no one is forced to seek justice elsewhere due to factors such as time, cost of litigation or uncertainty. Outside work, I enjoy dabbling in art and experimenting with new cuisines.