Karnataka - Bangalore

Judges told to monitor implementation of laws

Staff Reporter

Sabharwal attends valedictory function of High Court golden jubilee fete

Bangalore: Chief Justice of India Y.K. Sabharwal on Saturday said the judiciary, apart from interpreting legislation, should monitor whether other organs of the State, such as the executive, were implementing the laws to ensure justice to the poor living in remote corners of the State.

Speaking at the valedictory of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka High Court, he urged judges to set new targets and resolve to help those who needed justice. Though only the judiciary could interpret the laws, judges should concentrate on ensuring that they were implemented, he said. The weaker sections should not feel ignored. Many of them who approached the courts did not get good lawyers, he said.

Mr. Sabharwal had a word of advice for judges of the subordinate courts too. They should not be complacent about the disposal of cases, considering there were more than 10 lakh cases pending in the State. Getting justice within a reasonable period was a fundamental right of citizens. Judges could not pass the buck to other organs of the State with regard to the disposal of cases.

Appointment of judges

Mr. Sabharwal said nobody should be deprived of justice because of funds crunch or their ignorance. The Government was responsible for 80 per cent of litigation. Therefore, it should expedite the appointment of judges to vacant posts. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that of the 90 lower courts sanctioned, orders had been issued for setting up 45. The remaining would be established as and when infrastructure was ready. The Government was trying its best to complete the buildings for circuit Benches of the High Court in Hubli and Gulbarga.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said computerisation and information technology would help in providing speedy justice.

Alternative mechanisms should be utilised to settle disputes amicably, avoiding further litigation. The common man had high expectations of the judiciary, which he considered the ultimate guardian of his rights and liberties. If the problem of delayed justice was not tackled now, it could shake people's confidence in the judiciary.

He said the constitutional framework envisaged an independent judicial system insulated from partisan political influences. But some judgments were being delivered for reasons extraneous to the cause.

In his introductory address, Chief Justice of the High Court Cyriac Joseph said the court had cleared 1,671 cases by sitting on Saturdays. Lok Adalats had also cleared thousands of cases. The number of pending cases in the State was not acute.

R.V. Raveendran and K.G. Balakrishnan, Supreme Court judges, spoke. Governor T.N. Chaturvedi presided over the function.

H.L. Dattu, judge of the High Court, welcomed the gathering.

Pramila Nesargi, vice-president of the All-India Women Advocates Forum, spoke. Advocate-General Uday Holla proposed a vote of thanks.

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