New Delhi: Chief Justice of India S H
Kapadia on Saturday expressed anguish over pathetic working
conditions in trial courts in the country, saying even judges
enjoy the rights enshrined under Article 21 of the
Constitution.
"For the last 20 years, I have been seeing the pathetic
condition in which most the states` district judges are
working. There is no house, no rooms, no proper place to work.
I have myself seen those courts," he said.
The Article 21 pertains to having a person or a human
society to live with dignity and this includes even the
judges, Justice Kapadia said.
The CJI said the country was receiving very good foreign
investments because the rule of law still prevails and exists
in the largest democracy of the world.
"Some of our neighbours have been ruled by law and we are
lucky to have the rule of law, which is a very vital
distinction. It is an assets which one needs to protect.
"Today we are getting very good investment particularly
in form of foreign institutional investments and FDIs because,
this country has established a brand name in the sense that
rule of law still prevails and exist in the democratic set up
of India," he said at an inaugural function of the sixth
district court complex here.
Emphasising the need for adequate judicial
infrastructure, Justice Kapadia said no justice delivery
mechanism can work efficiently without it and expressed
satisfaction over efforts made by Delhi government in this
regard.
"Can you have a judicial delivery justice system or
justice delivery mechanism without a proper infrastructure?
The answer is no.
"All the three wings of the government be it executive or
legislature or judiciary all accepts that we need to have a
justice delivery mechanism thereby a proper infrastructure is
put in place. But because of financial constraints, these
dreams are not fulfilled. But today, I am proud to say at
least in this state my dream is fulfilled," the CJI said.
Kapadia said he had gone through the statistical data
of the last 10 years regarding budget allocation for the
judiciary.
While other states have below one per cent of their GDP
being allocated to the judiciary, Delhi tops the chart with
1.6 per cent, he said.
Delhi High Court Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Rs 313
crore court complex project at Saket was a "dream project" and
will prove to be a "temple of justice".
"This is the first time in India that bar room is
furnished for the bar. You will not find it anywhere in India
where the furnished bar is given by the High Court," he said,
adding the court complex at Saket epitomises modernity with
dignity.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the state is
ready to give "whatever required for the judicial system".
"We want to make Delhi the capital of best judicial
system. We are opening the sixth district court complex. Two
more to come as and when need arise. We can give whatever
require for the judicial system," she said, adding the
judiciary is repository of public faith.
PTI
