The Supreme Court of India has constituted a Standing Committee on Judicial Well-being to develop an institutional mechanism for identifying and addressing challenges affecting the professional and personal well-being of judicial officers across the country.

The committee was constituted by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on October 10, 2026, coinciding with World Mental Health Day. Supreme Court Judge Justice K.V. Viswanathan will chair the five-member committee.

According to the Supreme Court's official press release, the initiative recognises that judicial well-being is closely connected with the efficiency, quality and sustainability of the administration of justice.

Five-Member Committee Constituted

Apart from Justice K.V. Viswanathan as Chairperson, the committee comprises the following members:

• Dr. Savita Malhotra – Former Dean, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry.
• Mr. Rajat Mitra – Psychologist, Director and Co-founder of the Swanchetan Society for Mental Health.
• Ms. Mrinal Kanwar – Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court of India.
• Ms. Aarti Singh – Registrar (Judicial), Centre for Research and Planning, Supreme Court of India.

The committee brings together judicial, medical, psychological and legal expertise to examine the challenges faced by judicial officers and develop appropriate institutional responses.

Workload, Occupational Stress and Work-Life Balance to Be Examined

The Supreme Court noted that judicial officers discharge their responsibilities under demanding circumstances, including heavy caseloads, prolonged working hours, complex decision-making, administrative pressures and exposure to emotionally challenging and sensitive cases.

The committee will provide a continuing institutional platform to identify issues affecting judicial well-being, facilitate coordination on welfare measures, develop appropriate guidance and periodically review initiatives undertaken to support judicial officers.

The objective is to move beyond isolated interventions and establish a sustained framework for promoting mental and physical well-being throughout the judicial system.

Initiative Follows Research on District Judiciary

The constitution of the committee follows research undertaken by the Supreme Court's Centre for Research and Planning into the working conditions and well-being of officers serving in the District Judiciary.

The research examined several 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 are expected to provide a foundation for evidence-based institutional measures to address these challenges.

Supreme Court Refers to Global Judicial Well-being Initiatives

The Supreme Court's initiative also reflects growing international recognition of judicial well-being as an institutional responsibility.

The press release refers to the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being, adopted on July 25, 2024, which emphasises systemic and evidence-based measures to safeguard judges' physical and mental health.

It also notes that the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed July 25 as the International Day for Judicial Well-being in March 2025, recognising the relationship between judicial well-being and the effective administration of justice.

Focus on a Sustainable Justice Delivery System

By establishing a dedicated standing committee, the Supreme Court seeks to ensure that the challenges faced by judicial officers receive sustained institutional attention.

The initiative places judicial well-being within the broader framework of an effective and sustainable justice delivery system, with a focus on identifying concerns, coordinating welfare measures and periodically reviewing institutional support.

Source: Official Press Release, Supreme Court of India, October 10, 2026.