Workload impacting judges’ health: SC Justice Kotiswar

Supreme Court Justice N Kotiswar Singh said that judges suffer from high blood pressure and other medical ailments due to work-related pressure and stress. He was speaking at the first National Conference organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on the theme “Reimagining Judicial Governance: Strengthening Institutions for Democratic Justice” in Bengaluru on Saturday.

He reminisced that he was physically fit when he practiced as an advocate but developed a paunch and high blood pressure after becoming a judge.

“When I was a lawyer, I was very fit, I did not have this protruding stomach. Then, when I joined the judgeship, this started. The doctor told me I had high blood pressure. It’s a disease peculiar to judges. All the judges won’t disclose their state of health, but I know the doctor goes to every judge to check their BP. This is just a result of sheer work pressure. You will be depressed by this blood pressure,” he stated.

Justice Singh also stated that people are not aware of the working conditions of a judge. He stated that district court judges are working in pathetic conditions. He said that lower court judges are scared of the lawyers.

“Very few people know about the conditions we work in. How many people see how the judges in the district judiciary are functioning under pathetic conditions. Costs can be imposed in advance if the trial is not concluded in time. Lower courts don’t impose costs of more than `50 to 100. They are scared of lawyers in the district judiciary.”