LONG DELAYS IN COURTS IS ERODING PUBLIC TRUST: CJ

Chief Justice Priyasad Dep said the population increase has resulted in a heavy quantum of cases pending in every court in the country and that the judiciary had lost public confidence because of the long delays in courts.

Addressing a ceremony to lay the foundation for the proposed four-storey courts complex in Ratnapura, he pointed out the delays in courts should be minimized with the concerted effort of all parties concerned including the Attorney General’s Department, the judges the police, the lawyers, the Government Analyst’s Department and the Prisons.

The proposed courts complex costing Rs.2,500 million will comprise an appeal court, three high courts, two district courts, two magistrate courts and a labour tribunal.

“As the Chief Justice, I stress that the judiciary is independent today. However the public express concern about the long delays in courts. The backlog of cases in courts is due to the population increase and the complexity of trade and commerce that ensued economic development. Population increase resulted in land disputes. The people subject to any injustice seek relief through courts as their last resort. The delay in courts is common to any country. A former Chief Justice of India has said that the heavy backlog of cases if heaped up would be higher than the Himalayas,” the CJ said.