President Ram Nath Kovind has lauded the Jharkhand High Court for taking  steps in recent months to cut down judicial arrears and ensure justice to one and all.

 The President’s remarks came while he was making a speech in New Delhi on November 26  to mark  the inauguration of the Constitution Day celebrations.

 The three steps included special drive for fast disposal of five years and more old cases, speedy trial for identified 501 criminal cases by March, 2018 and clearing at least 35 per cent of pending cases related to cheque bounce by December. These special drives were launched after Justice D N Patel took over as the Acting Chief Justice on June 12 this year.

 The President, during his speech, while outlining the challenges before the higher judiciary, pointed out that it is upon the higher judiciary to mentor and encourage the lower judiciary. “‘In this, the cooperation of state governments is very much necessary. It is for state governments to ensure that the district and subordinate court judges are not denied their due perquisites and facilities. And it is for the High Courts to urge subordinate courts to be more efficient and conclude cases faster,” he said.

 “I am glad to note some High Courts are taking steps in these directions. As of June 30, 2017, there were about 76,000 old cases, pending for five years or more, in sessions and district courts under the High Court of Jharkhand. The High Court has set a target of March 31, 2018, to dispose of almost half these cases,” he pointed out.

According to sources, the President was quite impressed, when he was briefed about the new initiatives by the State Judiciary to ensure access  to justice to one and all, during his visit to Jharkhand to attend the State’s foundation day.

 Elated over the President’s pat, Justice Patel said that he has been personally monitoring online the progress of the special drive for disposal of over 500 criminal cases involving arms, narcotics drug  cases pending in trial courts by January next year, besides the disposal of five years and more old cases and cheque bounce cases.

 In fact, a fully-equipped dedicated room has been allotted to police and public prosecutors in every civil court from where they will be sending the summons on line or through fax to ensure presence of witnesses, including doctors, police in time so that they might not make any excuse for the delay.