PM stresses use of local languages in judiciary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed on use of local languages in the higher judiciary to increase the confidence of common citizens in the justice delivery system that received an endorsement from Chief Justice of India N V Ramana as part of the Indianisation of the judiciary.
While the Prime Minister called for connecting the justice system to the people and in the language understood by them to be able to distinguish between executive orders or judicial pronouncements, the CJI said he was receiving many representations for introducing local languages in the high courts and the time has come now, to review the demand and take it to logical conclusion.
The practice of law before constitutional courts should be based on one’s intelligence and understanding of law, and not mere proficiency in language, he said in this regard at a day-long joint conference of the chief ministers and HC chief justices at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.
CJI Ramana said ambiguities in legislation also add to existing legal issues. “If the legislature passes a law, with clarity of thought, foresight and with people’s welfare in mind, the scope for litigation gets minimized,” he said.
“We need to encourage local languages in courts. This will not only increase the confidence of common citizens in the justice system but they will feel more connected to it,” PM Modi said, addressing the joint conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts here.
Referring to the central government’s drive to repeal archaic and obsolete laws, PM Modi said in 2015 they had identified 1,800 such laws, of which the Centre has repealed 1,450 laws falling under its domain and of the laws to be repealed by the states only 75 have been scrapped.
The PM appealed to the chief ministers to repeal outdated laws to make delivery of justice easier. “In 2015, we identified about 1,800 laws which had become irrelevant. Of these, 1,450 such laws of the Centre were abolished. But, only 75 such laws have been abolished by the states,” he said.
PM Modi said as India celebrates the 75th anniversary of Independence, focus should be on creation of a judicial system that fulfils the expectation of people, where justice is easily available, is quick and for everyone, when we celebrate 100 years of independence in 2047.
The PM spoke about nearly 3.5 lakh undertrials, mostly from weaker sections, or average family backgrounds languishing in jails. Referring to district committees headed by district judges that reviews such cases, the PM urged the CMs and HC judges to look into these cases on humanitarian grounds.