SC seeks to Incentivize Super performer Judges

The Supreme Court of India, under the leadership of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, is planning to introduce an objective framework to identify and incentivize “super performer” judges within the trial courts across India. This initiative, announced in March 2024, aims to address the massive backlog of over 4.5 crore cases by motivating judges to efficiently clear cases through additional incentives. The criteria for recognizing these high performers are expected to include disposal rates, judgment quality, courtroom administration, initiative, work ethic, and the ability to handle complex cases. This move is seen as a significant step towards inspiring a culture of excellence in India’s lower judiciary and linking performance with incentives, providing a higher purpose for judges contributing significantly to backlog reduction.