PM terms backlog as biggest challenge for judiciary

Sun, Aug 16, 2009 14:07:06 IST

Speaking at the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices in New Delhi on Sunday, Dr Singh said that the elimination of vast number of pending cases in the Indian Courts is the biggest challenge before the judiciary.

PRIME MINISTER Dr Manmohan Singh called upon the judiciary and the executive to work together to make the Indian judicial system arrear free. He was speaking at the Joint Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices in New Delhi on Sunday (August 16). Dr Singh said that the elimination of vast number of pending cases in the Indian Courts is the biggest challenge before the judiciary.

Calling upon the judiciary and the executive to work like two wheels of a chariot, Dr Singh said that institutional interactions like this create a deeper understanding of each others’ perspective, enhance trust and impart the necessary direction and momentum for processes of good governance.

The Prime minister said that despite India having one of the most dynamic judicial systems in the world, the country had to suffer the scourge of having the largest backlog of cases. He said that expeditious elimination of these huge number of cases was the need of the hour.

In the war against arrears, Dr Singh said that the entire legal system and each rung has to work seamlessly, adding that the Apex Court has to play a special role as a catalyst, organiser, mentor, an umpire and also as a role model.

The PM also asked the Chief Justices of the High Courts to initiate steps for filling the high number of vacancies at all levels. He also called for strengthening the state judicial academies to build capacities of judicial officers and called for comprehensive computerisation to link all the courts in the country.

Dr Manmohan Singh also advocated the use of Consensual Dispute Resolution – whether by way of arbitration or diverse forms of mediation – is an effective bypass to litigation, with significant preventive and curative virtues.

He also said that government is working on judicial reforms and a detailed blueprint will be prepared in this regard after consulting the stakeholders.