Sat Sep 06 16:15:22 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

A symposium titled “LEXPOSIUM 2025” was held in Chennai, focusing on justice for a diverse and equitable India. Key speakers, including former Chief Justices of India N.V. Ramana and Uday Umesh Lalit, and Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, addressed critical issues plaguing the Indian judicial system. These issues include the prolonged pre-trial detention of individuals, the high pendency of cases, inconsistencies in bail application processes, and the need for accountable public prosecutors and police. The speakers emphasized the erosion of public trust in the judiciary due to these problems and called for comprehensive reforms, including better drafted laws, meaningful parliamentary debate, and a focus on the merits of individual cases before denying bail.

**News Article:**

**Judicial System Needs Urgent Reform, Say Legal Luminaries at Chennai Symposium**

**CHENNAI, September 6, 2025** – A day-long symposium, “LEXPOSIUM 2025,” held in Chennai on Saturday, brought together legal experts who delivered stark warnings about the state of the Indian judicial system and called for sweeping reforms. The event, organized by the SRM School of Law in association with *The Hindu*, featured prominent speakers, including former Chief Justices of India N.V. Ramana and Uday Umesh Lalit, and Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Justice Ramana described the criminal justice administration process as a “big punishment,” highlighting the issue of individuals spending significant time in prison awaiting trial, often only to be acquitted. He emphasized the need for public prosecutors to be accountable to the courts rather than their political appointees and called for greater police accountability to prevent wrongful incarceration due to faulty investigations.

Addressing the challenges of pendency of cases, Singhvi revealed that the number has surged from 3.3 crore in 2018 to over 5 crore in July 2023. He attributed this, in large part, to vacancies in high courts and lower courts. Singhvi argued that delayed justice is “the most egregious and unpardonable form of human rights violations,” noting that over six lakh undertrials have been languishing in jails for over five years. He also pointed out the inconsistencies in bail application procedures across high courts, with disposal times varying significantly.

Justice Lalit focused on the low conviction rate in criminal cases, indicating that a significant majority of undertrials are ultimately acquitted. He stressed the importance of prioritizing the merits of each case, urging that individual liberty not be compromised unless conviction is highly likely.

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain weighed in on the issue of bail, emphasizing it is not a matter of right and that judicial discretion plays a significant role.

The consensus at LEXPOSIUM 2025 was clear: the Indian judicial system faces serious challenges that erode public trust and demand immediate attention. The calls for reform included improvements in law drafting, robust parliamentary debate, greater accountability among public prosecutors and police, and a focus on individual liberty and the merits of cases when considering bail. The event served as a crucial platform for highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure justice for all in a diverse and equitable India.

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