Chief Justice of India Justice Palanisamy Sathasivam today appealed to the judiciary in the country to ensure that common people have easy access to the courts and also take steps for speedy dispensation of the cases to uphold its credibility.
Sathasivan, who was in Guwahati today to inaugurate a new building of the Gauhati High Court, also called for a gender-sensitive approach among the judges and urged them to prioritise cases pertaining to women and children. The 40th CJI, who assumed office only last month, said that there is, unfortunately, a growing crisis within the judiciary. “The manifestation of this crisis lies not only in the ever-increasing arrears of cases in courts and the consequent delays in our justice delivery system but also in the steady decline in the reputation of the judiciary as also of the legal profession.
This institution unlike the others in the democratic set up thrives only on trust and confidence reposed by the people,” he said while appealing all to conduct them in manner befitting to the status they hold. Calling for a gender-sensitive approach among the judges and those involved in legal profession, he said, “After joining the office, I have written to all the Chief Justices of various High Courts in the county to find out all the cases which have been pending for 10 years or more and give them priority. Besides, women and children are also to be especially dealt with.”