Foreign Chief Justices Witness Supreme Court Proceedings, Laud India's Judiciary & Jurisprudence

In a rare and historic moment, Chief Justices of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Mauritius, along with a judge of the Supreme Court of Nepal, joined the bench of the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday to witness proceedings in the Supreme Court for a short while.

CJI Surya Kant welcomed the visiting dignitaries warmly, calling their presence a “historic occasion.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also extended greetings on behalf of the Government of India.

Those who joined CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on the bench included Chief Justice of Bhutan Lyonpo Norbu Tshering, Chief Justice of Kenya Martha Koome, Chief Justice of Mauritius Rehana Bibi Mungly-Gulbul, Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Padman Surasena and Justice Sapna Pradhan Malla of the Nepal Supreme Court. Tan Sri Datuk Nalini Pathmanathan from the Federal Court of Malaysia and Justices Thurairaja PC and A H M D Nawaz from the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka were present in the courtroom.

The Chief Justice of Kenya said that Kenyan courts “look up to the jurisdiction of India” and regularly follow the Supreme Court's precedents. Conveying greetings from the people of Kenya, she congratulated CJI Surya Kant and expressed hope for continued cooperation “to uphold the rule of law.”

The Chief Justice of Mauritius said Indian jurisprudence has been a guiding force for their courts. Recalling former CJI B R Gavai's visit to Mauritius for a lecture, she congratulated CJI Surya Kant and said she was “very happy to have been included in this ceremony.”

The Chief Justice of Bhutan commended India's constitutional evolution, noting that the Constitution has undergone 106 amendments and calling it “the best,” with its purpose being to “serve humanity.” He highlighted India's diversity, democratic strength, and the principle of equal voting rights regardless of position. He expressed gratitude to the Indian judiciary and government. In a lighter vein comment, he said that he saw more lawyers in the Supreme Court today than he saw in his city.

The Chief Justice of Sri Lanka described it as a “profound privilege” to attend the event. Emphasising shared legal traditions, he said India and Sri Lanka have “the same traditions, same legal systems, same pattern, same set of submissions,” reflecting the deep historical and jurisprudential ties between the two nations.

The senior judge from Nepal praised the pace of judicial reforms in India, calling it “exciting” to witness the speed of change. She commended the digital transformation of India's justice system and expressed happiness at participating in the ceremony. He noted that this was the first time Nepal's judiciary received a direct invitation from the Indian judiciary for such an event.

Earlier in the day, the visiting dignitaries were honoured at the Supreme Court Bar Association's Constitution Day celebrations, where SCBA President Vikas Singh welcomed them. They had also attended the oath-taking ceremony of CJI Surya Kant on November 24.