Justice must be affordable, says President

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 28. While lauding the judiciary for its progressive and humanitarian role, the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, lamented that justice was still not affordable to the people.

Mr. Narayanan expressed the hope that the Supreme Court would pave the way for an ``accountable judiciary for dispensing quick, affordable and incorruptible justice to the people''. The President was speaking at Vigyan Bhavan here at a function to mark the golden jubilee of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Narayanan said it was heartening that under the Chief Justice, Dr. A.S. Anand, the conference of Chief Justices had adopted a statement on ``Values of judicial life'' as a step towards self-reform. In a veiled reference to the Priyadarshini Matoo case, he said the judge had let a person accused of murder go free on the ground that clinching evidence was lacking, though the judge was convinced that the person was guilty. ``Mysterious are the ways of justice,'' he said, adding, ``That is why it has been said that a law court is not a cathedral but a casino where much depends on the throw of the dice.''

Commending the Supreme Court, he said it had interpreted the Constitution ``not only with liberality but also creatively, responding to the challenges of the times in what has been called judicial activism. This activism consisted not of creating new laws but in bringing out explicitly what is implicit in the Constitution.''

Observing that the success of the judiciary depended to a great extent on the bar, he said, ``India has a bar that scintillates with brilliance. But justice is not affordable to the people. That is why Mahatma Gandhi had lamented long ago that the law had become the luxury of the rich and the joy of the gambler.''

In his welcome address, Dr. Anand said the contribution of the Supreme Court was significant in upholding the Constitution, rule of law, personal liberty and human rights, secularism, gender justice and democratic values. ``However, in spite of its expanding role, this Court has stood firm and aloof from party politics and political theories and responded to the hopes and aspirations of the people.'' The Attorney-General of India, Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee, said though the people were disgusted with the delay in dispensation of justice, they still looked upon the Supreme Court as one of the brightest stars in an otherwise dark firmament.

The Union Law Minister, Mr. Ram Jethmalani, released a pictorial volume and a compilation of essays by eminent academicians and personalities.

The Chief Justices of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe were among the distinguished gathering that included several Union Ministers, diplomats and judges of High Courts.

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