Chief Justice of India Justice Tirath Singh Thakur on Friday said that the aim and objective of the legal academies should not only be restricted to impart training to judicial officers but also to other stake holders exercising quasi-judicial functions, law students and the public.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Hostel block of HP Judicial legal academy at Ghandal in Shimla, he said there was a growing feeling that after investing so much in judicial academies, will they be fully utilised to serve the purpose all the year through. To overcome the issue, the State academies need to maintain liaison with National Judicial academy to chalk out the curriculum of the courses throughout the year with purpose of training so that the State academies doesn’t remain un-utilised or ideal.
Thakur also assured the Chief Minister that he will take up the matter with the Prime Minister and, if need be, with the Finance Minister for additional financial assistance to the State Government for completion of National law University. In a lighter vein he said that though judiciary did not intervene in such matters, but for him Himachal was a second home as his better half belong to this State.
The pendency in the HP High Court had reduced by 50% which was commendable performance, said Justice Thakur, adding that he had not heard of such reduction in other High courts.
Praising the clearance of backlog in States of Himachal and Kerla, the CJI said that the reason being here was that the number of vacancies in courts were quite less.
Justice Thakur also laid the foundation stone of National law University at Ghandal to come up with estimated cost of Rs137 crore as per initial estimates.
Addressing the gathering, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh expressed concern over the pendency of cases as it deprives people of speedy justice. He said that law should be able to adopt the dynamics of the ever evolving society.
The Chief Minister said that it had been our persistent effort to provide all possible assistance to Judiciary and urged CJI to take up matter with Government of India (GoI) for financial assistance of around Rs100 crore for completion of the National law University as it will involve more than Rs150 crore.
He expressed his gratitude to Chief Justice of India for inaugurating the new Judicial Academy campus and laying foundation stone of the National law University.
Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir, said that judicial education was essential for enhancing the quality and improving the standards of justice, adding that independence of judiciary depends upon public confidence and judges doing their jobs well.