Be Happy – The Judiciary is Making Introspection.

For some time, we have been experiencing increase in crime-graph all over the country. There are many reasons for this increase. Some attribute changing social environment, some debit with increasing unemployment, corruption, slow judicial process etc.etc. Yesterday, I got an opportunity to see the proceedings in the Court of Hon'ble Kalimullah Khan,J. at High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. Upto lunch time, he was found very much keenly discussing the pros and cons of every case being put up to him, and delivering the orders then and there. As the watch struck 1 pm, he extended the sitting time and continued to hear. After 18 minutes, he got up and wished Happy New Year to all those who were present in the Court. Then, he went to the Chamber. We thought that before going on winter off, he would dispose of all the files listed in his Court for the day. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, the staff informed that after lunch, the court would not sit to hear the cases. The good wishes expressed by the Hon’ble Judge pierced the hearts of those who were there in the court with hope that before the winter off, they would get the judgments on their cases but there being no court after lunch, they would not get the opportunity and their cases would be heard next time, perhaps in the month of January, 2013. The year 2012 would end with a sad note of delay which could have been avoided. They felt cheated but could not express their protest, fearing of the contempt of court then and there.

Not only in the Court of Hon’ble Kalimullah Khan, J, such incidents occurred in other courts earlier also when the hon’ble Judges come to the courts very late, leave the courts much before the lunch time, come back much late after the lunch time is over, many time, they do not come back. Thus, such practices result into short time dedication to the adjudicating process which is responsible for the fact that the majority of the cases listed for that particular court remain unattended causing a lot of financial, physical and mental hardship to those perokars who come to court from far flung districts. If the judiciary decides that its members will dedicate the scheduled time sincerely to the courts for hearing all the cases listed for them for that very day, the pending list of the cases may reduce drastically resulting into lesser frustration in the minds of the litigants and reduction into the hatred being developed by the attitude of judiciary staff, the prevailing corruption and bribe-cum-high fee being charged by some of the advocates. This dedication can reduce the crime graph affecting the society also – they too are the part of the society and can be affected by the criminals at any time, taking benefit of the slow judiciary process.

Further, why do the higher echelons of the judiciary effectively recommend for setting up benches of High Courts at divisional regions and that of Supreme Court at more places for quick delivery of justice? If it is done, we are sure that it may not cost the nation as much as the scams and slow judiciary process resulting into increasing crime graph are costing. The judiciary can increase the levy of judicial costs on the litigants to meet the expenses if the Governments do not support their recommendation of increasing the numbers of the benches financially.

For better society, the judiciary must make an introspection to improve itself also as it is an important part of the society and can be answerable one day when the crime supported by corrupt practices grows beyond control.

I think that the judiciary is already making introspection; it must now be accelerated further to bear the fruits earlier than it is too late.

Be Happy – The Judiciary is Making Introspection.