India, Jan. 25 -- Underlining that delay in justice erodes its very foundation, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said on Saturday that high courts must function as vigilant constitutional courts that actively respond to systemic failures in the rule of law, instead of waiting for individual litigants to seek relief.

"Justice delayed is not only justice denied, but it is justice destroyed," the CJI said, as he urged high courts to view access to justice as a state-guaranteed service rather than a passive entitlement.

Speaking at the Fali Nariman memorial lecture at Mumbai University, the CJI said high courts should go beyond their traditional appellate or revisional roles and function as accessible forums for constitutional remedi...