Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that there was enough scope for improvement in judiciary and it need not be affected by media trial, especially in sensitive issues. He expressed this view while addressing in two-day long administrative conference — 2013, which is being organised by the High Court Nainital, at ONGC auditorium, Dehradun on Saturday.
There was a need to speed up the process of judicial functioning. The common man had placed faith in the judiciary and it was important to maintain that trust. To ensure a qualitative judicial system, it was important to be aware of constitutional and administrative laws. It was also important to ensure knowledge of national and international affairs. This required good libraries that contained publications on these subjects.
The CM also hoped for better understanding of cases by the lawyers for which they needed to keep educating themselves. He stated that, like Uttarakhand, its judiciary was also free from any pollution. The CM said that the Judiciary played an important role in Democracy, and all steps needed to be taken to strengthen it. He mentioned that all must walk on the path of truth and with the trust of the people.
The CM announced that the officials working in the judicial service and using their personal vehicles to commute would be provided 100 litres of diesel/petrol every month. He also announced amendment in the robe allowance from Rs 6,000 once every three years to Rs 10,000 once every two years.
They would also be provided laundry allowance of Rs 1,000 instead of Rs 250 per month. An outdoor court allowance of Rs 1,500 per month would now be provided. Rs 75,000 would be given every sixth year to each judicial officer to do up the drawing room. The Chief Judicial Magistrate and Upper Judicial Service officials, who had administrative responsibilities, would be given Rs 1,000 per month and Rs 250 instead of Rs 50 per month to purchase newspapers. They would also be provided necessary security.
He said that the State’s courts must create new standards for the judiciary in the country and improve the services of the law department. He also released a souvenir on the occasion. The Chief Justice, Barin Ghosh, said that the Judiciary must maintain people’s trust in the judicial system. It was also important to ensure that justice was made available cheap to the common mass. It was important to understand people’s difficulties. District judge Ram Singh proposed the vote of thanks. Justice VS Verma, Principal Secretary, law, Jaidev Singh and Registrar DP Gairola also expressed their views.