SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Supreme Court Constitutes Standing Committee on Judicial Well-being on World Mental Health Day
Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan to Chair Committee; Initiative Aims to Address Occupational Stress, Workload and Mental Well-being of Judicial Officers Across India
New Delhi, 10 October, 2026
In a significant initiative aimed at promoting the mental and physical well-being of judicial officers across the country, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India has constituted a Standing Committee on Judicial Well-being under the aegis of the Supreme Court of India, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
The Committee will be chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and will comprise four other members including Dr. Savita Malhotra, Former Dean, PGIMER Chandigarh and Professor & Head, Department of Psychiatry; Mr. Rajat Mitra, Psychologist, Director and Co-founder, Swanchetan Society for Mental Health; Ms. Mrinal Kanwar, Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India; and Ms. Aarti Singh, Registrar (J), Centre for Research and Planning, Supreme Court of India.
The initiative marks an important step towards recognising judicial well-being as an essential component of an effective, independent and sustainable justice delivery system.
Addressing the Unique Challenges Faced by Judges
Judicial officers discharge their responsibilities under demanding circumstances, often involving heavy caseloads, prolonged working hours, complex decision-making, administrative pressures and exposure to emotionally challenging and sensitive cases.
Recognising these occupational demands, the Supreme Court has established the Committee to provide a structured institutional mechanism for identifying and addressing issues affecting the professional and personal well-being of judicial officers.
The initiative acknowledges that the well-being of judges is not merely a matter of individual welfare but is closely connected with the efficiency, quality and sustainability of the administration of justice.
Research-Based Institutional Initiative
The constitution of the Committee follows research undertaken by the Centre for Research and Planning, Supreme Court of India, examining the well-being of judicial officers serving in the District Judiciary.
The research covers several critical aspects of judicial service, including occupational stress, workload, mental and physical exhaustion, staffing shortages, infrastructural limitations, administrative responsibilities, transfers, work-life balance and the availability of institutional support.
The findings provide an important foundation for developing evidence-based institutional measures to address these challenges.
Mandate of the Committee
The Standing Committee will serve as a continuing institutional platform to examine existing and emerging challenges concerning judicial well-being.
Its responsibilities will include identifying areas requiring institutional intervention, facilitating coordination on welfare measures, developing appropriate guidance and periodically reviewing initiatives undertaken to support judicial officers.
The objective is to move beyond isolated interventions and establish a sustained framework for promoting judicial well-being across the judicial system.
Alignment with Global Initiatives
The Supreme Court’s initiative also reflects growing international recognition of judicial well-being as a matter of institutional responsibility.
It draws upon the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being, adopted on 25 July 2024, which emphasises the need for systemic, evidence-based measures to safeguard the physical and mental health of judges.
Further reinforcing this global commitment, the United Nations General Assembly, in March 2025, proclaimed 25 July of every year as the International Day for Judicial Well-being, acknowledging the vital relationship between judges’ well-being and the effective administration of justice.
Strengthening the Foundations of Justice
The establishment of the Standing Committee represents an important institutional step towards ensuring that the challenges faced by judicial officers receive sustained attention at the highest level of the judiciary.
By creating a dedicated mechanism for studying, addressing and periodically reviewing judicial well-being, the Supreme Court seeks to promote a healthier and more supportive working environment for judicial officers.
The initiative reinforces a fundamental principle: the well-being of those entrusted with delivering justice is integral to the strength, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the judicial system.
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