Vice-president stresses accessible, credible judiciary

Taking a cue from the Chief Justice of India's view that justice loses character if it becomes revenge, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu has initiated a debate on the issue of speedy justice.

"The judicial processes should become more people-friendly. It's the responsibility of all to ensure that the justice delivery mechanism is accessible, credible, equitable and transparently even-handed.

"The pendency of cases in courts is a cause of concern. Immediate action and collective efforts by the bar and the bench are needed to reduce this heavy pendency. Justice delayed is justice denied," said the Vice-President.

Stating that crimes against women are a matter of grave concern, Naidu said, "We should make the institutions that are responsible for law enforcement and dispensing justice more agile. We need more fast-track courts. In fact, the process itself should be fast tracked. Speed and objectivity are the key ingredients of an efficient judicial system." he said He said certain category of cases, like the election petitions and criminal cases against sitting MPs and MLAs, and disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law, must be decided in a time-bound manner.

On matters relating to disqualification of a legislator for changing parties, the chairperson of the legislative bodies must set a time-frame, said the Vice President.

"Any delay in the justice delivery in such cases erode public confidence in the judicial and legislative bodies," he said.