Special courts needed to try graft cases: PM

“Bring down curtain on delayed justice”
Need to increase number of judicial officers, judges
Alternative measures for settlement of disputes mooted
New Delhi: “Apart from pendency [of cases in courts] and delayed justice, corruption is another challenge we face in both the government and the judiciary,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.
“The CJI [Chief Justice of India] has written to me suggesting that we create special courts to deal with corruption cases. I agree that there is urgent need to do so. This will instil greater confidence in our justice delivery system at home and abroad.”
Dr. Singh was inaugurating a conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts here.
Expressing concern at the huge pendency of cases, the Prime Minister said all must work together to end this era of delayed justice. Pendency continued to remain a key challenge though the issue figured prominently in all previous conferences. Pointing out that justice delayed could often mean justice denied, he said: “Pendency will continue to increase unless special measures are taken to liquidate the pending cases at a much faster pace.”
One of the measures to bring down pendency was to increase the number of judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary and judges in the High Courts and the Supreme Court and to upgrade judicial infrastructure.
“The Centre is willing to help State governments in constructing new court buildings and residential accommodation for judges.”
Justice on doorstep
Explaining the government’s initiative in introducing the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2007, Dr. Singh said these courts would provide justice in relatively simple civil and criminal cases in 90 days. “It is also envisaged that the courts would function in a manner that justice can be delivered on the doorstep of the justice seeker. Over 5,000 such courts are expected to be established. Pendency can also be reduced through alternative measures for settlement of disputes. Many disputes can be settled through mediation and conciliation.”
Accumulation of arrears
Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who presided, said the delay “in the decision of cases at all stages inevitably leads to accumulation of arrears and this problem has reached serious dimensions. The delay in disposal of cases leads to dissatisfaction in the public mind about the effectiveness of court process for ventilating grievances.”
J. Venkatesan
Sunday, Apr 20, 2008
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