Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said the Centre stood committed to working with the judiciary to bring about improvement in the justice delivery system. He said the Government had taken a number of initiatives for this purpose.
Speaking at the closing function celebrating the 150 years of the Bombay High Court in Mumbai today, Dr. Singh said in the year 2011, the Government launched the National mission for justice delivery with the twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and arrears and enhancing accountability. He said a constitution amendment Bill for raising the age of retirement of judges of the High Court was currently before Parliament.
Dr. Singh said a comprehensive proposal had been formulated for the establishment of an All India Judicial Service. He said a group under the chairman of Law Commission was looking at the improvements that are required in court procedure and processes for a better criminal justice system.
Dr. Singh said all the three organs of the Government must work together to ensure social, economic and political justice for the citizens of our country. He said the Judiciary had a very direct role in this task that of upholding the Rule of Law and ensuring that the people of India enjoy their Fundamental Rights.
The Prime Minister said it was heartening to know that the overall pendency of cases in various courts of the country had declined by more than 6 lakhs over the period July to December 2011. He noted that the Bombay High Court and its subordinate courts have contributed to this achievement by reducing their pendency by 5 lakh cases annually since the year 2010.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also released a book titled A Heritage of Judging commemorating 150 years of the Bombay High Court. Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia, Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Attorney General GE Vahanavati, Goa Governor BV Wanchoo, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar and other dignitaries also attended the function.
During the function, Kapadia said the courts were required to appreciate their proper role in the constitution scheme and judgments of court should rest on principles. He said today judicial integrity was a matter of strong public expectation and the High Court judges of the future and the entire judiciary should endeavor to fulfill this strong expectation of the people.
Later today, the Prime Minister will also deliver the golden jubilee convocation address at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.
Earlier today, an all party-delegation led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan met the Prime Minister and requested him to hasten the transfer of NTC’s Indu mill land to the State Government to construct the proposed memorial of Dr BR Ambedkar. Dr. Singh told the delegation he would give appropriate directions to the textile and environment ministries in this regard.
