Cordial bench-bar relations must for speedy justice: CJI
LUCKNOW: Chief Justice of India TS Thakur on Saturday stressed on cordial relations between the bench and the bar for smooth functioning of courts and speedy delivery justice to litigants. He was speaking after inaugurating the new building of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court, here on Saturday.
“The bench and the bar must work in close coordination. This will not only build up cordial relationship between the two but will also ensure that litigants get speedy justice,” he said. Suggesting a way to bring down pendency of cases, the CJI said special hearings could be held during summer vacations of the high court if both parties (petitioner and respondent) agreed. Justice Thakur also requested chief justice of Allahabad high court Justice DY Chandrachud to look into the matter. Dedicating the new high court building to lawyers, the CJI requested them to work in the larger interest of litigants, who look up to the judiciary for justice. He asserted that the new structure was the best court building in the world.
“This high court building is best among all courts in the world. I have been to many countries and visited courts there. Be it Royal Court of London or Supreme Court of America, no court building can match this (new building of Lucknow Bench of HC),” said Justice Thakur. On a lighter note, CJI said: “I wish this building could be shifted to Delhi to replace the existing building of the Supreme Court.”
The CJI asserted that now, when lawyers have all requisite infrastructure, they have to work with more responsibility to ensure justice for litigants. The CJI also spoke at length about Lucknow’s culture and recited Urdu couplets.
Later, chief justice of Allahabad high court Justice DY Chandrachud also stressed on cordial relations between the bench and the bar.
“This is how we have to function in the larger interest of judiciary and litigants,” said Justice Chandrachud. Urging lawyers to work in the larger interest of society, Justice Chandrachud said: “Lawyers must serve society as people look up to them for justice.”
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Ram Naik stressed on filling vacant posts of judges and other staff members of the Allahabad high court and its Lucknow Bench.
“Ensuring speedy justice for litigants is a challenge before us. Shortfall of judges and other staff members in the high court is also one of the reasons behind delay in justice,” said Naik. Praising the grand building of the high court, Naik wanted a specific name for it so that people could easily relate to it.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav assured all help to the judiciary. “My government has always worked to strengthen the judiciary. In future also I will ensure that lawyers and the judicial department get all assistance from the state government,” he said.
Yadav also assured president of the Oudh Bar Association HGS Parihar that he would address all issues of lawyers. Senior judge of Supreme Court RK Agarwal and Governor of West Bengal Keshari Nath Tripathi also expressed their views.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were former chief justice of India KG Balakrishnan, Justice Rakesh Tewari, Justice Ajay Lamba, Justice SS Chauhan, Justice SN Shukla, Justice VK Shukla, Lokyaukta Sanjay Mishra, advocate general Vijay Bahadur Singh and Judge Tej Pratap Tewari among others. Justice AP Shahi presented a vote of thanks.