New Delhi: Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice, but it is baffling to note that its improvement and maintenance was being carried out in an “ad-hoc and unplanned” manner in the country, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said on Saturday, while sharing the stage with law minister Kiren Rijiju.
Noting that an effective judiciary can help in the growth of the economy, the CJI said courts are extremely essential for any society that is governed by rule of law.
CJI Ramana was speaking at the inauguration of two wings of the annexe building at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court.
“We are faced with certain hard facts like several courts do not have proper facilities. Some courts function out of dilapidated buildings. Judicial infrastructure is important for improving access to justice,” he said.
“It is baffling to note that the improvement and maintenance of judicial infrastructure is still being carried out in an ad-hoc and unplanned manner,” the CJI added.
He further said that the building that was inaugurated at Aurangabad on Saturday was envisioned in 2011.
“That it has taken 10 years for this vision to be implemented is extremely worrisome. This is a deeper problem that has plugged our judicial infrastructure planning in our country since the Independence,” the CJI said.
Also read: The Case for Compensating Those Who Are Acquitted After Long Periods of Incarceration
NDTV reported CJI Ramana as saying that only 5% of court complexes have basic medical aid, and 26% of the courts “don’t have separate toilets for women and 16% of the courts don’t even have toilets for men”. Nearly 50% of the court complexes don’t have a library, and 46% of the court complexes don’t have the facility to purify water.
“If you want a different outcome from the judicial system we cannot continue to work in this present condition. An integral aspect is of financial autonomy. I have sent a proposal for establishment of National judicial infrastructure authority to the ministry,” the CJI said, as per Bar and Bench.
He added that he was hoping for a positive response and the issue to be taken up during the upcoming winter session of the parliament.
He further said that it is a common notion that only criminals and victims approach court and people take pride in stating that they have never visited or seen a court building in their lifetime.
“But it is high time we take the efforts to remove this taboo for the affirmation of a citizen’s rights. The common man deals with multiple legal issues during his lifetime. One must never hesitate to approach the courts. After all, people’s faith in the judiciary is one the biggest strength of democracy,” the CJI said.
He added that courts are extremely essential for any society that is governed by rule of law as they actively assure the constitutional right to justice. Courts in India have always stood up whenever an individual or society is at the receiving end of executive excess, he said.
“It is an assurance that an individual, howsoever weak, need not worry about the might of a state,” CJI Ramana said.
Also read: SC Collegium Sent 106 Names for Judges, 9 for CJs, but Centre Cleared Only 8 Names: CJI
Also speaking at the function, Supreme Court Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the flipside of their work is they are confronted with the extent of justice and injustice faced by citizens across the nation.
Justice Chandrachud added that while the judiciary is celebrating the inauguration of the building but at the same time there has to be introspection from the judiciary on how to address the issue of pending cases in the state and country.
“As on date, there are over 48 lakh cases pending in Maharashtra with around 21,000 cases being more than three decades old. These are some of the problems we have to face. This calls for some introspection,” Justice Chandrachud said.
He also emphasized the need to have virtual courts so that every citizen across the nation can have access to court proceedings.
“Our citizens are entitled to know how court proceedings are being held, how long judges sit, and why some cases get adjourned. This is their right to know,” Justice Chandrachud said.
(With inputs from PTI)