Maintaining that political Opposition is translating into hostility, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Saturday said this is not a sign of a healthy democracy.
He said there used to be mutual respect between the Government and the Opposition, which is diminishing. "Political opposition should not translate into hostility, which we have been sadly witnessing these days. These are not signs of a healthy democracy," Ramana said.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the 18th All India Legal Services Authority in Jaipur. The event was organised at the Rajasthan Assembly by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
"There used to be mutual respect between government and opposition. Unfortunately, space for opposition is diminishing," he said.
The CJI also raised concerns over the quality of legislative performance. "Sadly, the country is witnessing a decline in the quality of legislative performance," he said, adding laws are being passed without detailed deliberations and scrutiny.
This apart, the CJI stressed the need to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system and pointed out that of the 6.10 lakh prisoners in the country, nearly 80 per cent are undertrials.
From indiscriminate arrest to difficulty in obtaining bail, the process leading to prolonged incarceration of undertrial prisoners needs urgent attention, he said adding we need a holistic plan of action to increase the efficiency of the administration of the criminal justice system, he said.
Earlier, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju had appealed to the State Legal Services Authorities to take efforts so that maximum undertrial prisoners can be released by August 15, 2022, when India celebrates its 75th Independence Day.
At the same time, he expressed concern over the exorbitant legal fees charged by prominent advocates, thereby putting justice out of reach for the poor and marginalised in the country.
“Resourceful people can afford big lawyers. There are lawyers in the Supreme Court whose fees a common man cannot afford. If they charge Rs 10-15 lakh per hearing, how can a common man pay up,” Rijiu asked while addressing the event.
Rijiju said that 71 obsolete Acts will be repealed in the Monsoon session of Parliament, slated to begin from Monday, July 18.