Modi Advocates Use Of IT For Speedy Delivery Of Justice

Earlier addressing the gathering, Justice Khehar raised the issue of pendency of cases in courts including in the Supreme Court, and the shortage of judges, and said he was taking steps to reduce the burden on the judiciary.
The CJI asked the judges to consider sitting in courts for 

five days during vacation to clear at least 10 cases each day and bring down the pendency. 

"This way thousands of small matters like matrimonial disputes and mediation cases can be settled and arrears of cases brought down" he said and referred to a system of court management under which pendency of cases in Malaysia had been brought down to one-fifth. 

He said three constitution benches will sit during this summer vacation to help reduce the arrears in the apex court. 

Justice Khehar recalled the contribution of legal luminaries like Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Tej Bahadur Sapru and KN Hegde. 

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the gathering the government is committed to complete independence of the judiciary. 

He asked lawyers to volunteer to help the poor get access to justice and highlighted the steps being taken by the Centre to reduce pendency, including minimising litigation by the State and meeting the long-standing demand of filling up vacant posts of judges. 

"The Prime Minister has said that the government is committed to independence of the judiciary and that it should be complete," he said. 

He said that to reduce arrears in courts, the government is setting up 'sahayata kendras' (facilitation centres) that would be devoted to speedy disposal of such cases as may have been pending for 10 years or more. 

"A pilot project for legal aid was being launched for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," the minister said. 

Prasad exhorted those involved in the legal profession to help the government in achieving its objectives by devoting their time and energy in cases "that may be pro bono and may not bring publicity". 

The minister said that the process is on for finalising a national litigation policy. 

"Already, I have at the direction of the Prime Minister written to chief ministers of states and my colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers to ensure that the number of cases filed by the government is reduced as far as possible. 

"There has been a long-standing demand for filling up of vacant posts of judges. That too will be taken care of," Prasad said. 

There are nearly 5,000 vacancies in the subordinate judiciary and the pendency. There are as many as 2.7 crore cases pending in subordinate courts, and 38.7 lakh cases pending in the high courts. 

Hailing the contribution of advocates in the freedom struggle, the Minister said luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Rajendra Prasad had set an ideal of "kaabil vakil, tyaagi neta" (competent lawyer, sacrificing leader) which all ought to follow. 

Prasad also recalled landmark judgements passed by the Allahabad High Court, including the one whereby the election of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was set aside. 

Another key verdict way back in 1901 had held that a widow was entitled to receive maintenance, he said. 

"I was myself privileged to be a counsel in yet another landmark case - the Ayodhya title dispute. I do not wish to speak about this case much since an appeal challenging the High Court order is pending before the Supreme Court," he added. 

In his speech, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the role played by the judicial system in maintaining the balance of power. 

The gathering was also attended by UP and West Bengal governors Ram Naik and K N Tripathi, Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and members from the legal fraternity.

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