Law minister-CJ's verbal tiff
We take note of the verbal exchange between the Law Minister and the Chief Justice, not merely as a riposte of the latter to the former's criticism of the performance of the judges but for the merit that both sides have in what they have articulated. The exchange occurred during the foundation laying ceremony by the prime minister of the Judges' Complex last Saturday
Although one would have liked these issues to have been much rather discussed in the confines of the four walls of the office, but, it is just as well that the opinions were expressed in public, since it has brought out the real problems that ail the judiciary.
The Law Minister has very rightly pointed out that the number of pending cases is very high. We feel that this could be reduced greatly with a little more diligence from the judges. The tendency to give dates without detail hearing, and to dispose of only a few out the listed ones, is the norm rather than the exception. The cause of justice as well the interest of the common man will be well served if the court hours are strictly followed, which, regrettably, is not so in many cases. And in delaying justice we are denying it to the aggrieved.
By the same token, there is no denying that there is a woeful shortage of judges at all levels of the judiciary as the Chief Justice has pointed out, and he must be complimented for reducing the number of pending cases substantially since his assumption of office. The judges must be accorded all facilities to dispense justice. It is unfair to expect quick disposal of cases when there not enough courtrooms for the judges to sit separately in. And, while we want expeditious disposal of cases, we cannot agree more with the CJ that justice hurried is justice buried.
It would be erroneous to think that these are matters for the judiciary or the law ministry alone to resolve. These are issues that affect the vast majority of those seeking redress of their complaints from courts, and which the law ministry as well as the judges ought to address immediately.
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