Clear cases pending for over 10 years: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Speaking at the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Madras High Court (MHC) Heritage Building here on Saturday, Prasad, on noting that at MHC, out of the 2.97 lakh pending cases, as many as 33,960 were over 10 years old, while among the 10.99 lakh pending cases in the lower courts, a total of 44,721 cases were over 10 years old, said, the numbers weren’t huge and the High Courts have to set a bench mark in disposing such cases on a priority basis.

Also, on noting that efforts were on to augment the number of judges, he said, earlier, a mere 75 to 80 judges were appointed in a year. But last year, 126 judges were appointed to various courts and this year the number is expected to cross 175. He said the Madras High Court is set to get another 11 more judges apart from the six judges who took charge this year.

Describing India’s digital transformation as an empowering process, the union law minister wanted the Judiciary to realign itself for a newer and faster disposal mechanism through the e-court process. Hailing the progress of the National Judicial Data Grid as a step in the right direction, he said the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has set up 2.4 lakh law centres to aid the poor. He also highlighted the creation of ‘Nyaya Mitra’ for reducing pendency of cases by offering assistance to litigants suffering due to delay in investigations or trial. The Minister also highlighted a website that has been created for young lawyers to take up pro bono practising and that within a couple of months as many as 158 of them have registered.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, who presided over the celebrations, called on the advocates to get rid of the disease of adjournment they have been afflicted with. He said both the bar and bench ought to come prepared to the court and even if the judge is inclined to offer an adjournment, the advocates should come forth and say “I am ready. Please hear the case.”

He also took strong exception to the lack of punctuality and said it is against law.

Supreme Court judges RK Agarwal, R Banumathi and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Attorney General of India KK Venugopal, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, State Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam, MHC Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Advocate General for Tamil Nadu Vijay Narayan also spoke on the occasion.