India, Oct. 17 -- It is fashionable to blame judges for the mess, for their vacations, the slow pace of hearings, or the opaque collegium system. But that is only part of the truth. The larger blame lies with successive Governments, both Central and State, that have failed to invest in infrastructure, manpower and systemic reform.

Justice is one of the four essential pillars of governance, the others being external security, internal order and fiscal management. Yet, of these, justice delivery has remained India's most neglected promise since Independence. Successive Governments, irrespective of ideology or leadership, have celebrated military strength, economic growth, and welfare schemes, but none have demonstrated the vision or politi...