# Questioning strengthens institutions, says next CJI Vikram Nath 2026-08-08T20:46:17+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath, slated to become India's next Chief Justice in February, said on Tuesday that public institutions must welcome questioning and scrutiny. Speaking at an event organised by the Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association, he stated: "We are living through unprecedented times. People today are far more aware of their rights and of the institutions which govern them… Institutions must be open to questioning. That is part of their strength, not a threat to it." Justice Nath added that if citizens are expected to respect institutions, then institutions must be equally willing to account for the power entrusted to them. He also noted that justice, fairness and transparency cannot remain confined to judgments, speeches or statutes; they must be felt in the lived experience of those who approach the system. The event also featured Zambian Supreme Court Judge Abha Nayar Patel and SCAORA Vice President Nikhil Jain, who spoke on technology's role in improving access to justice. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com Tags: Access to justice, CJI Vikram Nath, institutional strength, judicial accountability, rights awareness, Supreme Court Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/questioning-strengthens-institutions-says-next-cji-vikram-nath/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/questioning-strengthens-institutions-says-next-cji-vikram-nath/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.