Balancing the Scales: Prioritizing Mental Health and Well-Being of Judicial Officers
By:
Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
Judge, High Court of Delhi, India
Abstract
The judiciary everywhere carries a demanding responsibility, not only of deciding cases but also of protecting the independence and credibility of the justice system itself. This work is often relentless, involving heavy caseloads, constant public scrutiny, and the emotional weight of difficult decisions. For women judges, these pressures are frequently sharper because of entrenched gender roles, family and caregiving obligations, and the persistence of bias inside and outside the courtroom. Around the world, there is now a growing recognition that judicial well-being matters and needs attention. In India, however, the subject is still spoken of only hesitantly, often pushed aside by silence or stigma. This paper attempts to break that silence by drawing attention to these issues, considering experiences from other countries, and suggesting practical steps that could respond to India’s specific challenges.
Global Context and Shared Concerns
Judges’ mental health and well-being are finally starting to get the attention they deserve, because without it, courts just can’t function properly. On 4 March 2025, the United Nations General Assembly declared 25 July as the International Day for Judicial Well-being, recognizing that judges need both physical and mental health to do their jobs effectively. The Nauru Declaration on Judicial Wellbeing (2024) pointed out problems that judges around the world face: heavy workloads, feeling isolated, and not having enough support from colleagues or institutions. Surveys, including one by the UNODC, show that over ninety percent of judges deal with stress at some point in their careers, and many report burnout, anxiety, or similar issues.
One thing that doesn’t get talked about much is the culture of stoicism in the judiciary. Judges are supposed to stay calm, composed, and impartial at all times, which makes it hard to speak openly about struggles or stress. This expectation of emotional restraint can keep problems under the surface, letting stress pile up and leaving little room for rest, recovery, or support.
India’s Judicial Landscape: Pressures and Stigma
In India, judges—especially at the district and lower levels—carry massive workloads and deal with cases that are emotionally draining. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has pointed out how this work takes a real toll on personal life. Judges see suffering every day—litigants, victims, even defendants—and it doesn’t just stay in court. Over time, it can cause anxiety, sleepless nights, and in some cases, even depression.
For a long time, this was just accepted as part of the job. Mental health was seen as a private matter, something judges shouldn’t talk about. Many simply learned to live with the stress, afraid that speaking up might harm their reputation or career. There were hardly any mental health check-ups, stress management programs, or confidential counseling options available.
Things are slowly starting to change. The Supreme Court opened the Ayush Holistic Wellness Centre in February 2024. The Bombay High Court has a “Sukoon” project, putting counselors inside courts. Judicial academies run workshops on stress and emotional intelligence. Even the Bar Council of India has suggested regular mental health checks. These steps don’t fix everything, but they show that people are finally beginning to notice the hidden struggles judges face.
Unique Struggles of Women Judges in India
For women judges, things are even harder. There are social and structural barriers that weigh on them constantly. Yes, more women are joining the subordinate judiciary—about a third now—but when it comes to High Courts, the numbers are still very low, around 14 percent, and the Supreme Court has even fewer. On top of that, many female judges deal with poor infrastructure, workplaces that lack gender sensitivity, and old-fashioned attitudes that make it harder to advance or be taken seriously.
Then there is the pressure to juggle work and home perfectly. Transfers can shake up family life and disrupt children’s schooling, and women judges feel that more sharply because institutions rarely make allowances when personal crises collide with professional duties. Public debates and even some judgments have started noticing this, questioning whether the system really treats women equally.
And now, there’s the online world. Women judges face harassment, threats, and abuse on social media. It’s not just personal—it hits their work too, affecting confidence and making it harder to act boldly. This is a new kind of stress, one that’s part of the digital age, and it’s piling on top of everything else they already carry.
The Legal and Policy Shift: India’s New Commitment
In July 2025, something important happened. The Supreme Court of India said clearly that mental health is part of the right to life under Article 21. It was a kind of landmark moment, because it wasn’t just about physical health anymore—mental well-being, dignity, and freedom from degrading treatment were all recognized as part of living a full life. In the Sukdeb Saha v. State of Andhra Pradesh case, the Court made it clear that everyone, including judges, has the right to access mental health services. It also reinforced ideas from the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017—like providing care rather than punishment for suicide attempts and letting people specify how they want to be treated.
The Court also issued the “Saha Guidelines.” Originally, they were meant for schools and coaching centers, but really, the ideas apply anywhere people work. They talk about having trained counselors, doing regular mental health checkups, having anti-bullying rules, emergency plans, and involving parents or the community when needed. For judges, this is significant. It shows that the law can support their mental well-being, especially for women judges, and that institutions have a role to play in making sure they are not left to deal with stress and pressure alone.
Advancing Judicial Wellness: Evidence and Recommendations
Judicial academies, these days, are being pushed to include things like mindfulness, resilience, stress management, and emotional intelligence—basically, ways to help judges cope with pressure. Honestly, talking about mental health is still kind of rare in the judiciary, but it really needs to become normal, whether it’s at conferences, workshops, or just in peer groups. The Bar Council has suggested regular mental health checkups, and that seems like a good idea—if you catch burnout early, you can do something about it.
There are a few projects that show how it might work. Take “Sukoon” in the Bombay High Court, for example. Judges, and even litigants, can get counseling and stress support right inside the court. It’s practical and accessible, and maybe it’s something that could happen elsewhere too. Also, these Judicial Wellness Cells, or whatever form they take, could help remove the awkwardness of seeking help—make it feel okay rather than shameful.
Family-friendly programs, or help for judges going through big life changes, also seem important, especially for women judges. Better infrastructure, policies that consider gender issues, and protection from online harassment—these are not just nice-to-have things; they really affect how courts run. And of course, bigger reforms matter too—more judges, better tech for case management, creating workplaces that don’t feel hostile. That’s how stress gets tackled at the root. Plus, looking at what other countries are doing could be useful too—maybe adapt some ideas that make sense for India.
Conclusion: Towards a Compassionate and Efficient Judiciary
Judicial wellness in India is slowly starting to get some attention, which is good, because for a long time it was kind of ignored. With some constitutional recognition now, a few new policies, and courts actually thinking about it, it seems like things might finally start changing. People are talking more, and some projects here and there are showing that judges’ mental health actually matters, not just the cases they handle.
Sure, there are still lots of problems, especially for women judges, but at least there’s some momentum. Things like regular checkups, counseling services, workplaces that understand gender issues, and better peer support—these could really make a difference. When judges are looked after, it’s easier for them to do their jobs properly. They can be fair, they can be on time, and they can be humane in their decisions. Caring about judges’ mental health isn’t just for them—it helps the system work better, makes the courts more trustworthy, and keeps the scales of justice balanced in real life, not just on paper.
Bio-Data
Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma graduated in English Literature from Delhi University, later earning her LL.B. (1991) and LL.M. (2004), and was awarded a Ph.D. in 2025 for her doctoral thesis titled “Achieving Constitutional Vision of Justice Through Judicial Education: A Comparative Study of the Best Practices in the UK, USA, Singapore, and Canada.”
She became a Magistrate at the age of 24, among the youngest in the country, and was elevated as a Sessions Judge at the age of 35. She was elevated to the High Court of Delhi on 28 March 2022.
She is a Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI), Canada, and has served internationally as a resource person with CEELI. She is also the author of four books: Don’t Break After Break-Up, Beyond Baghban, Tumhari Sakhi, and Love Full Circle.