Chennai: Justice M Y Eqbal Friday took over
as Chief Justice of Madras High Court and said being
incorruptible and maintaining moral integrity was fundamental
to sustain people`s trust in judiciary.
"No incident of corruption should be tolerated and anyone
prone to corruption will have no place in the system," Justice
Eqbal said at a function organised by the bench and bar on the
High Court premises.
Earlier, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala administered the
oath of office to 59-year-old Justice Eqbal at the Raj Bhavan,
which was attended by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Deputy
Chief Minister M K Stalin, besides judges of the High Court.
He replaces Justice H L Gokhale, who has been elevated as
a judge of the Supreme Court.
The 59-year-old Eqbal was appointed Judge of the Patna
High Court in 1996 and moved to the Jharkhand High Court in
November 2000.
Justice Eqbal said he was, however, of the view that "a
few isolated incidents cannot be taken into account for
branding an institution as corrupt".
Stressing the need for ensuring access to weaker sections
of society, he said equal opportunity did not mean equal
outcome but that the justice delivery system led to equitable
results.
He said development of the Justice Delivery System by
introduction of the `ADR method` and its widespread use would
make a great difference in the justice system. He was keen to
introduce the art of mediation in Lok Adalat and permanent Lok
Adalat as an out of court pre-litigative mediation.
Referring to boycott of courts, he said it was
bewildering when at times complete apathy was shown to the
work culture by resorting to strikes or boycott of courts.
The Chief Justice said there was no scope for
confrontation between the Bar and Bench. "The existence of one
ensures the existence of the other."
PTI
